Water that Stinks

(Diagnostic steps to finding the source of the smell so you can correct the problem)

My Water Stinks!

Water containing hydrogen sulfide is usually not a health risk, but it does impart a nuisance "rotten egg" smell and taste. Water with as little as 1.0 p.p.m. (part per million) hydrogen sulfide are corrosive and may tarnish copper, silverware, etc. Occasionally a black material is released that stains laundry and porcelain.

Hydrogen sulfide is formed by sulfur bacteria that appear naturally in water. These bacteria use the sulfur in decaying plants, rocks, or soil as their food or energy source and produce hydrogen sulfide as a by-product. The sulfur bacteria do not cause disease, but their presence in water can cause a bad taste or odor.

Water Analysis

Discovering the Source… The ideal time to isolate the smell is after you have been away from home for a few hours. This allows your nose to become sensitive to "that” smell again. Start with an outside faucet. . . one with water flowing untreated directly from your water source. Let it run a minute or two then smell it. If you detect an odor, you have discovered “the” source or one of the sources. If there is no odor, you’ll need to look a bit further. 

Next Step. . . Turn on a cold water faucet inside the house and let it run a minute; now smell. If there is an odor you must have a device such as a cartridge filter, water softener, water heater (more on water heaters below), etc. in the water line that needs to be cleaned and sanitized. 

If it is a Cartridge Filter, simply sanitize the inside of the housing with a disinfectant, such as Lysol, and replace the filter element with a new one. If the odor is coming from your Water Softener, call the company where you bought the unit for guidance.  

You Can Do It Yourself! A water softener can be sanitized by pouring Hydrogen Peroxide or Chlorine Bleach in the brine well of the salt tank and starting the regeneration cycle. Check with the seller, manufacturer or any Certified Water Specialist or Water Treatment Professional for a recommendation on the concentration and amounts for your specific softener. I’ve found the nice folks at EcoWater Systems to be very helpful. And since they repair all brands of softeners they may be more knowledgeable. 

The Next Step… If your cold water doesn’t stink, turn on the hot water and let it run a few minutes. "Rotten egg" odors from hydrogen sulfide are sometimes present only in hot water. This may indicate a reaction with the magnesium rod in the water heater. Consider permanently removing the anode rod or replacing it with an aluminum rod.  

Sometimes hot water will have a "sour" smell, similar to the smell of an old damp rag. This happens when, in an effort to save energy or to avoid blending hot and cold water, the thermostat of the water heater is lowered. Odor-causing bacteria live and thrive in warm water and can infest the water heater. This is corrected by returning the thermostat to its recommended temperature, because the odor-causing bacteria are killed at the higher water temperature (at or above 140 degrees).  

Caution: Be sure the water heater has an operable pressure relief valve before increasing the water temperature. If you want to keep your water heater temperature at a lower setting because scalding from hot water is a concern, each time the odor returns, increase the water temperature for a few hours to kill the odor-causing bacteria. Then flush the very hot water out of the tank and lower the temperature back to the desired level.  

It's my Source Water that Smells. What can I do? 

If the odor is not very strong (and there is no iron in your water), you might be able to solve it with a small Carbon Filter. You can place this type of filter on the cold water line where you get your drinking water. A much better choice would be a 20” Whole-House Carbon Filter on your incoming water line to filter all of the water entering your home.  

Important! Carbon filters must be sized correctly. If water runs through the filter too fast the odors will not be removed. This is part of the reason the faucet mounted mini-filters are ineffective. Larger-sized filters are more effective at odor and contaminant removal.  

It is VERY Important to replace the carbon filter element and sanitize the housing on a regular basis. Carbon filters provide a perfect place for bacteria to grow and reproduce. Regular filter replacement helps prevent buildup of bacteria in the filter cartridge.

For those of you with Mini-Filters on your kitchen faucet, ice makers & water dispensers in your refrigerator… you should replace those filters more often than the manufacturer recommends.

My water has a Strong, Rotten-egg smell. . . 

Strong, “rotten-egg” odors in untreated water are often the result of the decomposition of underground organic deposits. As water is drawn to the surface, hydrogen sulfide gas may be released. When concentrated, this gas is flammable and poisonous. It can be toxic to aquarium fish. You may be able to taste hydrogen sulfide in your water even when the concentration is quite low. 

There are three basic ways to solve this problem:

1) Filter it –

     A) A Whole-House Filter filled with hydrogen sulfide removal media is one choice. However, it can be challenging to correctly size these filters and the filtering media can be very messy.

        B) A Whole-House Carbon Filter (or series of carbon filters) is most often, a better choice… again, assuming there is very little or no iron in your water.

2) Chlorinate it – A chlorinator injects small amounts of chlorine into the incoming water. The chlorine quickly reacts with the hydrogen sulfide to form a tasteless, odorless, yellow particle. The yellow sulfur particles that remain in the water can form a yellow film on clothing and fixtures. A backwashing filter will remove the sulfur particles. A chlorine injector, coupled with a backwashing filter, and an activated carbon filter to remove the chlorine is an effective combination. Note: Chlorine injectors need regular attention; adjustment and refilling. Quality backwashing filters are self-sufficient, requiring little or no maintenance for years. Carbon filters need to be replaced at least annually.

Remember, when you mix chlorine with organic materials the chances are very high that trihalomethanes (THM’s… possible cancer causing carcinogens) will be formed.  Be sure the filter you choose is high quality and designed for chlorine removal.

3) Aerate it - An aeration system sprays the incoming water into the air, draws fresh air through that spray and then collects the aerated water in a storage tank. The aerated water is then pressurized and filtered. The air drawn though the spray must be vented outside the house as it can be both toxic and explosive. The primary advantage to this system is that no chemicals are added to the water. This type of system is relatively low maintenance but the initial investment is higher. And of course, you’ll need to find room for the storage tank and equipment. Note: Storage tanks are notorious for breeding bacteria. A ultra-violet light system installed after the storage tank is highly recommended.

Note: Storage tanks are notorious for breeding bacteria. A UV light system installed after the storage tank is highly recommended.

Michael Robison is a Water Treatment Consultant with EcoWater Systems, 316 North Main Street, Moscow, Idaho 83843 U.S.A. Michael can be reached at (208) 669-0908 or by email at michaelr@turbonet.com

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© 2007 by Michael L. Robison

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