Sulphur smell in well water..?

[Drdogface]

I have a small cabin with a well and 3000 gal holding tank. The water has recently developed a strong sulphur smell. I'm sure that a gal or so of bleach in the well would likely kill the bacteria causing the problem there but not sure how much to put in the tank or if there is a better plan of attack. Yes, I will call the water treatment companies here locally but thought I'd consult the brain trust here too

Ideas?

[cstreit]

A gallon of bleach in the well would be WAY too much.

The sulfur smell is usually caused by a bacteria that eats certain organics and emits the gas. Killing it will work for a few weeks maybe. It can also be caused by iron itself in the water.

I'd start with 1/2 cup bleach in the well and tank if you want immediate results. Be sure to flush out your lines after smelling it, bleach causes rapid oxidation of minerals and iron in the water that can ruin equipment inside. They actually make a sterilizer that is LIKE bleach made for RV tanks that might be better?

Then I'd call a well place and have them analyze the water. They'll tell you what is causing it and then you can decide on an attack plan if you want to deal with it.

My neighbor needed an iron filter to get his water clean. For us, it took a big carbon filter... Really depends on the cause...

[Shadetree930]

Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria in Well Water - EH: Minnesota Department of Health

[Drdogface]

Thanks Chris and ShadeTree. I actually did find the Minnesota site earlier and have it bookmarked. Glad I posted here cuz I would surely have overdosed the well.

The property is for sale so I'll have to disclose the problem even if I solve it. Just after I listed it this problem showed up AND my solar tracking motor took a dump... Murphy's Law, I guess...

[Joe Bob]

When you smell H2S...and then DON'T smell it, time to run away. It means the gas has enough ppm to deaden your sense of smell.....then you get daid.....

You may want to have someone with an OVA to test the levels.

[MotoSook]

H2S levels in underground water is usually pretty low, not enough to be deadly...not even close. It is enough to be a nuisance and easily treatable. Sulfur filters, iron filters, carbon filters....it is rare to have none of the nuisance elements/gases in underground water. A homeowner buying a house with a well should have some expectation to treat the water.

[Joe Bob]

In most cases, yes. Cisterns and water tanks can accumulate higher concentrations when closed up, releasing the gas when opened for inspection or maintenance. When I was working hazmat in Santa Barbara, 5 workers were killed when they were working in a water well. Two went down and three others when they went in to rescue w/o breathing apparatus (SCBA).

CA has high levels in water and oil.....first thing rule in training is never go into an enclosed space rescue w/o safety equipment.

[Laneco]

Don't forget to flush the hot water tank...

angela

[MotoSook]

We avoid confined space entry and our guys carry gas analyzers/monitors. We keep environmental forms very profitable.

In most cases, yes. Cisterns and water tanks can accumulate higher concentrations when closed up, releasing the gas when opened for inspection or maintenance. When I was working hazmat in Santa Barbara, 5 workers were killed when they were working in a water well. Two went down and three others when they went in to rescue w/o breathing apparatus (SCBA).



CA has high levels in water and oil.....first thing rule in training is never go into an enclosed space rescue w/o safety equipment.

[Joe Bob]

Good business practice as a pro, Mark isn't, hence my advice and Angela is also correct on flushing.

As you know H2S and other gases are highly corrosive in both gas and soluble forms. As you know, 02 in pure form is as well.

[MotoSook]

Good points, Mike.

[Buckterrier]

My dad had a camp on lake Texhoma in Oklahoma. The water naturally had a horrible 'rotten egg' smell. It hard to brush your teeth in the morning. Just horrible.
Good luck Mark!

[Drdogface]

Thanks for all the input. Now will be a good time to treat the well cuz it seems I left a hose on watering a tree and my tank is empty now ... My water heater is tankless..so no worries there really...

At this time of the summer my place will not be salable ...too hot and dry. I'll have time...and I'll need it..to get things fixed and looking good. The well has a solar pump with a panel on the roof of the well house. I have not been in the well house in YEARS and don't relish opening it up but I'll need too.... Sure it's full of Black Widow spiders and maybe a buzz tail or two getting outta the sun. Not gonna be fun but the elec's that I installed need up dating too. Ugh...

[Bill Douglas]

I wouldn't put bleach in it as it will kill the, umm, good bugs, and may leave the bad ones resulting in an even worse smell.

And drink bottles water. It will be ok for shower and loo.

[flatbutt]

I used to get that odor in my water. Especially upon returning from a week away from home. But since installing the on demand water heater it has not happened.

3000 gal is HUGE!

[Jerome74911S]

Sometimes the odor of excess manganese is confused with the odor of sulfur. If a test shows this it isn't necessairly a bad thing, because manganese is actually sold as a food suppliment. However, if you get a good filter system, this odor will be removed easily.

[O'Grady]

Bleach is a band aid, hydrogen sulfide is a by product of dead bacteria who's life cycles has been sped up by higher temps above ground, i.e. worse on the hot side, since these are generally anerobic bacterias we have had excellent luck with green manganese filters and air injection systems. If the bacterias cannot reproduce in a sufficient amount they cannot die and "Gas off" in a high enough level to be detected by a person.
I mean, that's what I overheard in line at the beer store......

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

My dad had a camp on lake Texhoma in Oklahoma. The water naturally had a horrible 'rotten egg' smell. It hard to brush your teeth in the morning. Just horrible.
Good luck Mark!

that's where I live..... water the grass at night, sulphur keeps the fleas and ticks away

[Buckterrier]

Small world! Yeah he had a nice trailer on a piece of property. I don't know where is was but I remember fire ants!! I guess the sulfur is good for something then

[Bugsinrugs]

I had a filter system installed back in December by Peters well drilling. They were responsive and reasonably priced.