How To Get Rid of Sulfur Smell in Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

That “rotten egg” odor coming from your tap water can really put a damper on, well, everything—from pasta nights to morning showers.

Luckily, while the sulfur smell in well water is an unpleasant odor, it is treatable. In most cases, the smell comes from hydrogen sulfide, a sulfur compound gas made from sulfur bacteria. In this guide, we’ll outline how to diagnose your foul water smell, improve water quality, and rid your house of contamination.

Step #1: Diagnose the Problem

Before you get your tool belt out from the far corner of the coat closet, you must first find out where the stench is coming from. In general, there are two ways to diagnose and figure out how to get rid of the sulfur smell in water:

• Compare your hot and cold water – If your cold water smells and tastes fine but your hot water does not, then the problem is probably with your hot water heater, specifically with the anode rod.
• Inspect your water source or well – If both the hot and cold water has a rotten egg smell, then it’s safe to assume you have a problem with your water source. There are a variety of options to consider, including shocking the water system with chlorine or peroxide, as well as implementing ongoing chlorination, potassium permanganate, active carbon filtration, aeration, and ion exchange. Or, you can change your water supply entirely.

The solution you choose will depend largely on where the problem is occurring and how much mg/L of hydrogen sulfide is in the sulfur water. While the smell is often an indicator of the presence of hydrogen sulfide, you can also test levels by:

• Taking a water sample to a state-certified laboratory
• Using a sulfur stick
• Implementing a Biological Activity Reaction Test that tests for sulfur bacteria

Alternatively, the issue could also be due to iron bacteria—although it’s less common. This type of bacteria appears on surface waters and deposits “rusty” bacterial cells that can stick to plumbing.

Step #2 Identify if the Smell is Coming From the Water Heater

The foul odor may be emanating from your hot water heater since many types of bacteria thrive in warmer temperatures. Usually, an anode rod works within the water tank to eliminate impurities. However, over time it may become corroded and stop working, leading to sulfur-like smells.

As such, you’ll want to sanitize and inspect the heater to prevent further contamination if you notice a sulfur-like smell coming from the tank.

How to Sanitize the Tank

Sulfur-reducing bacteria thrive in hot water environments like a hot water heater. When these types of bacteria consume sulfur, they can produce high levels of hydrogen sulfide, producing a rotten egg smell.

Once these bacteria are established in the tank, you’ll have to sanitize the tank to remove them:

• Step #1: Disinfect the tank – Mix four cups of hydrogen peroxide with forty gallons of water. Fill the tank with this solution, allowing some of it to run through the lines but keeping most of it in the tank. Let it sit for at least two hours.
• Step #2: Refill the tank – When ready, turn the household water back on and let your tank refill.