While some water quality issues are imperceptible, others can be anything but discreet. Perceptible water quality issues may indicate the presence of a contaminant or other water quality problems. The smell of sulfur or even a chlorine odor may not necessarily indicate that your water is unsafe to drink. If your water smells like rotten eggs, that likely indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas.
This could be due to a problem with your water heater or naturally occurring sulfur bacteria , especially in well water. These issues can produce hydrogen sulfide, which leaves an unpleasant scent wherever it goes. Tap water that contains hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfur bacteria is sometimes referred to as sulfur water.
Hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs, may occur naturally in well water. Less commonly, it could be due to a direct source of pollution.
Most frequently, however, the smell of sulfur in your water is likely due to the existence of sulfate-reducing bacteria, which produces hydrogen sulfide as a byproduct. Even small amounts of hydrogen sulfide can lead to the smell or taste of sulfur in drinking water. Black stains on silverware and plumbing fixtures signs of hydrogen sulfide gas.
Corrosion on pipes and metal components of the water distribution system signs of hydrogen sulfide gas. Have your water tested at a laboratory. Consider Testing Your Water In most cases, the rotten egg smell does not relate to the sanitary quality of the water.
What You Can Do The first step is to find out what the source of the issue is; that will let you know what treatment option is best. How to Find the Source After you have been away from your home for a few hours, smell the water coming out of the hot and cold water faucets.
If the Problem is in the Water Heater Unless you are very familiar with water heater operation and maintenance, have a plumber or water system professional to do the work.
Replace or remove the magnesium anode. Many water heaters have a magnesium anode, which is attached to a plug located on top of the water heater.
It can be removed by turning off the water, releasing the pressure from the water heater, and unscrewing the plug.
Be sure to plug the hole. Removal of the anode, however, may significantly decrease the life of the water heater. You may wish to consult with a water heater dealer to determine if a replacement anode made of a different material, such as aluminum, can be installed. A replacement anode may provide corrosion protection without contributing to the production of hydrogen sulfide gas.
Disinfect and flush the water heater with a chlorine bleach solution. Chlorination can kill sulfur bacteria. If all bacteria are not destroyed by chlorination, the problem may return within a few weeks. Increase the water heater temperature to degrees Fahrenheit 71 degrees Celsius for several hours.
This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem. How Hydrogen Sulfide Gas is Produced in a Water Heater A water heater can provide an ideal environment for the conversion of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide gas. If the Problem is in the Well, Plumbing System, or Water Softener Disinfect the well and plumbing system with a strong chlorine solution.
If the Problem is in Groundwater Installing home water treatment or drilling a new well in a different formation are both options. The gas is trapped by the carbon until the filter is saturated.
To know for sure, send a sample of your water to your local extension office. Request a testing kit from them at a minimal cost, and have your water analyzed by their experts. If tests come back positive for hydrogen sulfide, they may send instructions on how to get the issue resolved.
This may be a process you have to repeat every six or so months, so you can also consider installing a carbon filter on your drinking faucets or having a plumber install a reverse osmosis unit under your sink to remove the odor. Thankfully, the fix is pretty easy. Throw out the gross food and promptly take out the trash , then take any surrounding food out of the fridge so you can treat the affected area.
We recommend using a Multi-Purpose Cleaner so that you can easily wipe away the mess while also killing germs. Experts recommend checking the copper coils in your fridge and air conditioning units. The only real fix here is to replace your drywall, which is a major bummer. From gas leaks to off-gassing drywall seriously?! Some new fields in the Middle East produce oil that is up to 40 percent sulfur, Pyun added. With any luck, his team's process can turn that garbage into something useful.
Elemental sulfur is a commonly used pesticide on many American and European farms. It is approved for use on both conventional and organic crops to help control fungus and other pests. In California alone, more than 21 million kilograms Although the Environmental Protection Agency EPA has labeled elemental sulfur as generally safe, studies have shown that this type of pesticide is a respiratory irritant to farmworkers. Now, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has gone a step further and looked at the respiratory health of residents living near treated fields — specifically, hundreds of children living in the agricultural community of Salinas Valley, California.
Their findings were published in August in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The researchers found that children living within a half-mile from recent elemental sulfur applications had reduced lung function, higher levels of asthma-related symptoms and greater asthma medication use, compared to unexposed children.
Specifically, they found that a fold increase in applied sulfur within 1 kilometer 0. The study authors urgently call for more research to confirm these findings in the hope that it will lead to changes in regulations and application methods to limit respiratory harm on nearby residents. According to the researchers, one idea is to switch to "wettable" powders. Additional reporting by Traci Pedersen, Live Science contributor.
Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science covering topics from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior.
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