Many people complain of a sulphur smell in their well water. There’s something decidedly unpleasant about water that smells like rotten eggs.

We’ve covered some of the ways to determine the source of your smelly water – now, we’re listing some of the common causes of sulfur smelling water:

• Decay of organic matter or chemical reactions with sulfur-containing minerals in soil and rock.
• Sulfate-reducing bacteria which convert naturally occurring sulfate and other sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide gas.
• Water heaters can produce hydrogen sulfide gas by:
  • Providing a warm environment for sulfate-reducing bacteria to live.
  • The anode, which is usually magnesium, supplies electrons that sustain the reaction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide gas.

A common complaint about local tap or well water is that it occasionally has a sulphur (or, rotten egg) smell.  This is caused by Hydrogen Sulfide gas (H2S) that occurs naturally, and gives water its trademark “rotten egg” smell and taste.

Is Sulphur Smelling Water Dangerous?
Most of the time, no.  A sulphur smell in your water likely doesn’t relate to the sanitary level of your water.  However, it IS possible that exposure to sewage or other pollution, and you should have your local Culligan Dealer test your water.

Here are a couple general tips to go by when identifying the source of your sulphur smelling water:

• If the smell is only from the hot water faucet the problem is likely to be in the water heater.

• If the smell is in both the hot and cold faucets, but only from the water treated by a water softener and not in the untreated water the problem is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the water softener.

• 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 problems is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the well or distribution system.

• If the smell is strong  when the water in both the hot and cold faucets is first turned on and is more or less constant and persists with use the problem is likely to be hydrogen sulfide gas in the groundwater.

An easy solution to this is to set up a whole home water treatment system – such as the reverse osmosis water softening equipment provided by Culligan dealers in your area.