Quick Facts
- There are over 316 chemicals found in drinking water across the US
- If your water smells like rotten eggs it is likely caused by hydrogen sulfide gas
- Although in most instances your water will be perfectly safe to drink, a rotten egg smell can be a sign of dangerous water contamination
- There are several ways you can locate and remove the problem
Why does my tap water taste and smell like onions?
Plugged Drain or Garbage Disposal. If you have a clog in your garbage disposal or kitchen drain, this can cause your shower to smell like onions. What happens is that the waterrunning to the shower can free the gas from the bacteria in the clog. The result is that you smell the gas coming out of the tap in the shower.
Why does your water smell like rotten eggs?
If your water smells like rotten eggs, the odor is usually caused by the levels of sulfur bacteria and Hydrogen Sulfide that can be found in a building’s water supply. If you only experience the smell when using your hot tap, it may be a chemical reaction occurring inside your hot water heater, and not a problem with your water supply.
Is it safe to drink water that smells like rotten eggs?
In most cases drinking water that has a strong rotten egg odor, although particularly unpleasant, is perfectly safe to drink. However in some rare occasions the odor may be caused by sewage or other contaminates in a building's water supply, which could cause health problems.
Does your tap water taste or smell different?
Does your tap water taste or smell any different? It turns out that bacteria are the culprit. State scientists say they have found elevated levels of naturally occurring, harmless bacterial by-products in tap water in certain areas of Philadelphia and some suburbs.
Is it safe to drink tap water that smells like rotten eggs?
Potential Problems with Hydrogen Sulfide In most cases drinking water that has a strong rotten egg odor, although particularly unpleasant, is perfectly safe to drink. However in some rare occasions the odor may be caused by sewage or other contaminates in a building's water supply, which could cause health problems.
Why does my faucet water smell like rotten eggs?
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.
How do I fix smelly tap water?
Earthy or Fishy Odor If the problem is in the drain, the tap water in the glass should not have an odor. To flush the drain, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour half a cup of vinegar. Wait 15 minutes, and then pour in hot tap water.
How do you remove hydrogen sulfide from water?
Aeration. Since hydrogen sulfide occurs as a gas in water, it can be physically removed by injecting air into the water and allowing the gas to escape. Aeration units may work by cascading, bubbling, or stripping the gas from the water. Aeration may be advantageous because it does not add chemicals to the water.
How do I get the sulfur smell out of my faucet?
The easiest way to eliminate a foul odor in your home's water supply is to run all the faucets for around 10 minutes. Running water from every faucet can clear out the rotten egg smell.
Can sulfur in your water harm you?
If the sulfur level in your drinking water is not too high, it shouldn't lead to any health issues. However, too much sulfate could lead to the following problems: Diarrhea and dehydration: Drinking water with a high sulfate content can have a laxative effect and lead to diarrhea, which can then cause dehydration.
How do you fix water that smells like rotten eggs?
Clear and Clean Your Water Heater: If the smell is coming from your water heater, turn it off and flush it entirely. Once empty, refill it, turn it up to 160 degrees, and let it run for several hours. This is usually enough to kill any bacteria.
Is smelly tap water safe to drink?
Tap water that smells or tastes of chlorine is not usually a cause for concern. Tap water is disinfected with chlorine to make it clean and safe to drink, so the smell is likely left from the treatment process. If the smell or taste of chlorine is very strong, however, it's best to contact your local health agency.
Why does my faucet water smell like sewage?
The most common reasons for tap water to smell like sewage are bacteria growing in your drain, bacteria growing in your water heater, or hydrogen sulfide in your water source. To check the source of the smell, fill a glass with tap water, and step away from the faucet.
Is it safe to shower in water that smells like sulfur?
Taking a shower with sulfur water is perfectly safe. The presence of sulfur in water, which mostly gives off a “rotten egg odor”, has no known health effects on your health or overall wellbeing. If you can tolerate the smell, there's nothing wrong with showering in sulfur water.
What filter gets rid of sulfur smell?
The most effective way to treat and prevent sulfur from affecting you and your water is an iron filter. An iron filter can eliminate hydrogen sulfide in water as well as iron and manganese.
Does water softener remove rotten egg smell?
Ordinary household water softeners do not remove sulfur odors from water. In fact, softeners easily become fouled or clogged, reducing their softening capacity.
Can you filter hydrogen sulfide from well water?
Oxidizing media filtration (such as a manganese greensand filter) are effective for hydrogen sulfide levels up to about 6 mg/L. This type of treatment is often used to treat iron problems in water.
How do you neutralize hydrogen sulfide?
When dealing with a hydrogen sulfide gas leak, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends using water to spray down the gas, then adding sodium bicarbonate to neutralize it.
Does a water softener remove hydrogen sulfide?
ION EXCHANGE. The ion exchange process can already be found in water softeners, which replace hard-water minerals with relatively harmless ones. Ion exchange can also remove hydrogen sulfide, since most of the hydrogen sulfide in water exists in an ionized form.
How do you remove sulfates from drinking water?
Reverse osmosis usually removes between 93 and 99 percent of the sulfate in drinking water, depending on the type of treatment unit. Distillation is a process that boils water, making steam. The steam rises and leaves contaminants, such as sulfate behind.
Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?
If your water smells like rotten eggs, first of all, don’t panic. The rotten egg odor is caused by levels of sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide gas. It can occur when water comes in contact with organic matter or certain minerals, such as pyrite. If you use city water, most of this bacteria is killed with chlorine, but if you’re on well water, ...
How to get rid of rotten eggs smell?
Find the Source of the Rotten Egg Smell: First, check your drains to see if they smell. Sometimes drain lines have a trap that prevents sewer gas from coming up through. If you don’t use your sink for a while, the water trap can evaporate, allowing the nasty smelling in your home. Next, try running both hot and cold water from all ...
How to get rid of a smell in a drain?
If the source is just the drain and not the water, try pouring a couple of teaspoons of baking soda in the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. The foaming of the baking soda/vinegar will eat away at anything clogging the drain. After a few minutes, pour several cups of boiling water to wash it down and sanitize the drain. If the smell dissipates, you have solved the problem.
Why does my water smell cold?
If your cold water smells too, see if the stench comes from faucets not connected to the water softener. If the answer is no, the issue lies in your water softener. If the answer is yes, check if the smell decreases after the water runs for a few minutes. If the answer is yes, the problem is likely in the well or plumbing system. If the answer is no, the issue is likely in your ground/well water.
How to get rid of water smell from hot water?
If the smell comes from the hot water only, the problem is likely the water heater. Try flushing it out by connecting a hose to the drain valve of your water heater . Place the other end of the hose outside where excess water can run. After ten minutes, fill a cup to see if there are little sediment particles in the water. Repeat the steps until the water runs clear.
What to do if your well water smells like sulfur?
If you have well water, and the sulfur smell comes from every faucet, you would benefit from a whole house well water filtration system with a UV filter. This system will remove the hydrogen sulfide and bacteria, which will reduce bad odors, damage from sulfur, and protect you and your family from other chemicals and contaminants.
How many contaminants are in drinking water in 2021?
Last Updated on July 12, 2021. by Jennifer Hansen. There are over 316 contaminants in drinking water across America, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That means common odors may come from tap water, and a nauseating rotten egg smell may be one of them.
Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?
If you have hydrogen sulfide in your water supply , the main reason your hot water can smell like rotten eggs, it can damage pipes as it corrodes many different types of metals and can also cause black stains on silverware and plumbing fixtures .
Why does my water smell so bad?
If the smell is strong when the water in both the hot and cold faucets is first turned on, and it diminishes or goes away after the water has run , or if the smell varies through time the problem is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the well or distribution system. This could also be a sign that there is a more dangerous problem in your water supply.
What Causes The Smell?
If your water smells like rotten eggs, the odor is usually caused by the levels of sulfur bacteria and Hydrogen Sulfide that can be found in a building’s water supply . If you only experience the smell when using your hot tap, it may be a chemical reaction occurring inside your hot water heater, and not a problem with your water supply.
What bacteria are in water?
If you are concerned about what is in your water you can purchase test kits that will check the levels of hydrogen sulfide, sulfate, sulfur bacteria, and iron bacteria.
Is it safe to drink rotten eggs?
In most cases drinking water that has a strong rotten egg odor, although particularly unpleasant, is perfectly safe to drink. However in some rare occasions the odor may be caused by sewage or other contaminates in a building’s water supply, which could cause health problems.
What to do if your water smells like rotten eggs?
The first step that you should take is to bring your water to a laboratory to have it tested. Professional plumbers can also retrieve a sample to test it for sulfur contaminants.
Why does my water smell bad?
For example, if your water only smells that bad when you use hot water, it points to the water heater. However, cold water that smells foul is likely due to a water softener that has parts that need replacement. The smell may appear when you use hot and cold water, and that suggests that it is the well or groundwater.
Why does my water softener smell?
Clogs in your water softener can cause a buildup of sulfur which creates a foul smell. Either clean your water softener or change out the solution in your water softener. 2. Water Source. Your water source may also have sulfur contaminants that create sulfur and rotten egg smell.
What does it mean when your groundwater smells like sulfur?
This is similar to when rotten egg and sulfur smell emits from your well or plumbing system. You can have your groundwater tested for contaminants, but the results will likely point to hydrogen sulfide. Contaminated groundwater may indicate that the area surrounding your home has many contaminants, and that is a serious issue.
How to flush out hydrogen sulfide?
You can flush out hydrogen sulfide by increasing your water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, you may simply need to infuse your water with a chlorine solution to remove contaminants.
How do you know if a water heater is a problem?
You can tell that the water heater is the problem if your rotten egg smell only appears in hot water. You still need to enlist a boiler inspector to know for sure if that is the problem, but it likely is. Water heaters can accumulate a buildup of contaminants, bacteria, and minerals that affect the odor.
What causes slime in plumbing?
A buildup of sulfur bacteria can create a slime of sorts that clogs plumbing and well systems. This clog allows for more bacteria to form and spread, and you can detect it by looking at it. The slime often takes on a grey, brown, or black appearance and forms within the plumbing or well.
Why does water smell like eggs?
Hydrogen sulfide causes water to smell like rotten eggs, but it can have several causes. Identifying the cause can help you get rid of the smell effectively. Let’s have a look at the main culprits:
Why do rotten eggs smell?
Naturally Occurring Chemical Reactions. Chemical reactions aren’t the leading cause of the rotten eggs smell, but they could lead to hydrogen sulfide formation. These reactions may happen when soil chemicals (such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides) contaminate a water source.
How to Get Rid of the Sulfur Smell in Well Water?
If you’re using well water that smells like rotten eggs, the first thing to do is check if you can smell sulfur when running cold water. If you can detect the smell only when running hot water, the problem is in the water heater, and you should follow the advice above.
What does hydrogen sulfide smell like?
Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that smells like rotten eggs. When the gas is trapped in water, it gives the liquid the same foul smell. Olfactory issues aside, hydrogen sulfide may also alter the taste of water. So, how can you fix this issue?
How to kill bacteria in well water?
If you use well water, you should flush and sanitize the tank and perform a shock chlorination treatment. Moreover, increasing the temperature to 160°F for several hours may help kill bacteria. Installing a water purification system can also help.
Why is it important to test your water?
Thus, testing your water regularly is essential for maintaining your health and keeping your plumbing system in good condition.
How to test a well for chlorine?
Chlorine test papers. Step 1 – Shut down the electric supply and open the well. Inspect all its parts for integrity before proceeding. Step 2 – Mix a bleach solution based on the amount of water in your well. To do this, pour water from the system in the bucket until it’s about three-fourths full.
Causes Behind Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs or Sulfur
We talked a little bit about the cause of why water smells like eggs. While we came to the conclusion that a rotten egg smell in the water is likely caused by carbon, we didn’t quite get into how the carbon got there in the first place.
What is the Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria, Anyway!
As briefly mentioned above, hydrogen sulfide or sulfur bacteria is a byproduct of oxygen-poor aquatic locations. Consequentially, it is a commonly occurring phenomenon that you can encounter in a wide variety of different locations.
Is Sulfur Water Dangerous?
Some level of sulfur in your water is pretty typical. Indeed, you’ve probably ingested a significant amount of sulfur over time and never known the difference. In very small quantities, sulfur in your water is not only harmless but also unlikely to be detected.
Expert Advice
We’ve taken a pretty in-depth look at what it means to notice that your well water smells. When your well water smells like sulfur it’s never a good thing, but it’s also possible to nip the problem in the bud before you ever notice the unpleasant symptoms.
Well Water Smells like Rotten Eggs or Sulfur: How to Fix
Unfortunately, people who use well water are the most at risk to experience an egg or sulfur stench. However, understanding the problem can do much to help you fight back against it.
Improve Your Drinking Water by Water Filtration Gear
A healthy collection of water filtration gear can also go a long way towards helping you successfully eliminate any unpleasant odors you might be encountering in your home. Here are some water filtration/supplemental resources you can use to fight back against a rotten stench from your pipes.
Why does my kitchen tap smell like rotten eggs?
3 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Tap Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs. The water that comes out of your kitchen taps shouldn't have a strong smell. You might get the occasional whiff of chlorine but, apart from that, your water shouldn't smell of anything. However, you sometimes get a rank sulphurous smell when you turn on your taps.
Why does my water smell like eggy?
If it doesn't do this, then sulphur bacteria can settle in the water. This bacteria comes out when you run a hot tap, making the water smell eggy.
What does it mean when your sink smells like eggs?
Fill a glass with water and take it away from the sink. Let it settle for a couple of minutes and then sniff the water. If it smells like bad eggs, then you have a water problem; if it smells fresh, then something is off with your sink.
Why does my water filter smell?
While a filter is designed to improve the taste of your water, problems in the system can cause odours. For example, smelly bacteria can lodge on a blocked or dirty filter pad.
Does the egg smell go away when you turn on the water heater?
In this instance, the problem should right itself once you turn the heater on again and go back to using hot water as normal. The eggy smell should disappear once your system heats up the water to the right temperature.
Why does my water smell like eggs?
The reason your water smells like eggs is because of an increase in sulfur bacteria in your home’s water supply. This is a problem that can be (and should be) fixed easily, but here are the facts on this stinky issue.
Why does my water heater smell like rotten eggs?
Hot Water Only – When this rotten egg smell is only present when the tap is dispensing hot water, the problem lies within your water heater . Contact your local plumber to service and repair your water heater to prevent future damage to your home’s plumbing system.
Why do eggs smell?
The Cause of the Rotten Egg Smell. This unpleasant odor is caused by high levels of sulfur bacteria (Hydrogen Sulfide) within your home’s water supply and plumbing system. However, sometimes you will only experience this rotten smell while using the hot water tap.
Finding The Source of The Odor
Why Does My City Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
Why Does Well Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
Frequently Asked Questions