Had the same problem outside of Port PERRY, YEARS AGO. A Patterson Iron Remover , did the trick.
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Had the same problem outside of Port PERRY, YEARS AGO. A Patterson Iron Remover , did the trick.
you can get a water test kit at your local library .then you send it in and thy will tell you what is up .it is common in a lot of areas to have sulfur in the water and it will still be safe to drink ,just smells bad .most gals will not like this .haha it is a easy fix ,but get it tested your self just to be sure D
It might be "fixable".
But I would never buy property where my water supply had to be "fixed".
An eternity of using technology to remove bad smells from water....
No thanks.
I think I'll live somewhere else were the water tastes like water.
Rotten egg smell a.k.a hydrogen sulphide can be present for a number of different reasons and although unpleasant is not usually a health concern. The exception is the rare instance where the source is actually from sewage contamination - but as stated this is rare and if true the microbiological test results will also be through the roof.
The most common sources (in no particular order) are:
- natural due to the local geology.
- sulfur reducing bacteria residing in your well.
- sulfur reducing bacteria residing in your plumbing (most often the water heater)
- chemical reaction between the anode in your water heater and sulphate
The microbiological testing done by the local health unit and/or the home owner prior to closing is usually only for Total Coliform and E. Coli and/or Fecal Coliform. This test will not detect sulfur reducing bacteria and will not tell you anything regarding the source of the problem.
If the problem only occurs on the hot water only than the issue is likely localized to the hot water heater and can be resolved by cleaning and shock chlorinating the water heater and/or changing out the anode based on the recommendation of the water heater manufacturer. If sulfur reducing bacteria have colonized the heater you may have to do this on some kind of regular schedule as it is almost impossible to kill all the bacteria and the survivors begin recolonizing at a geometric rate.
If the issue is sulfur reducing bacteria in the well/aquifer than shock chlorination will temporarily resolve the problem but as with the water heater it is almost impossible to get them all and survivors will recolonize the well. Continuous chlorination with subsequent activated carbon dechlorination will permanently resolve this (although carbon media will need to replaced periodically).
Another alternative is to install a backwashing filter (looks like a softener without the salt tank) that oxidizes the hydrogen sulphide to harmless tasteless sulphate (this would be my first choice). Incidentally sulphate is usually what you started with but the bacteria use it as an oxygen source and in the process convert it to hydrogen sulphide.
If the issue is caused by the geology and not bacteria related than either chlorination/dechlorination or an oxidizing filter will work.
If you get testing done beyond microbiology than make sure you check for iron, manganese, hardness and pH as well. These parameters will directly affect the model and size of treatment equipment installed.
Also beware of free testing as sometimes they know what they are doing and are honest. Other times they are shysters and will say you need whatever they have the largest margin on. The residential market is full of both types.
Javex is is the realtors trick and friend lol There is a place just south of Sutton that has the small sterilized water bottles used to put your water in to be tested Hand your sample in to them and it gets picked up by the lab there on certain days .
Were you there to see them take the water? Did you take the sample?Quote:
Originally Posted by Splaker
The only reason I ask is because you want to make sure that it is just too much sulfur (it happens). If it is just sulfur then it is safe to drink, rotten egg water just reminds me of grandmas house, ha ha.
Not sure where you live but the housing market is extremely tight here. There's not much out there that we like. We narrowed our search down to one area, actually. We love the house we bought. Paid a bit more than we wanted too, but there was a lineup of buyers. They have a small child and we met them. They have had the water tested and said they just got used to the odour and didn't notice it. We mostly drink bottled water anyway. That's not the issue. So, overall, I figure the house is otherwise perfect for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by johny
Once you get YOUR well water fixed up, you will wind up filling plastic bottles for friends who want PURE water to drink, instead of that store bought swill....
If it is your hot water tank, do some Google research on anodes. There are two common types and you can solve your problem by switching to the other one. It is just a different metal and you can tell which you have by the cap on the end, where it screws into the tank.
Like I said, once you get used to good well water you will never be happy with city or store bought stuff...
we have a sand farm and the water is heavenly we have folks come form the city to fill jugs of are water .even the old owners come out once a month to fill there water jugs .once you have had real good water everything ells is just not good enough .I hope you can get your smell sorted out and good luck with your new home Dutch
Our test came back fine... but it only tests for potability. Good to drink but still smells - cold and warm water.
We need to get it tested now for the other stuff to figure out what is in our water. No idea about PH, iron, other mineral counts.. I just don't want to dump bleach down the well as some sites suggest. We get the place in 2 days so we will spend a few days trying to figure this out. I am wary of the crooks out there who want to sell you a $1500 system.
The dry pellet chlorinator recommendation sounds interesting since we are pretty certain it's hydrogen sulphide... it has all the symptoms of being that.
If anyone can recommend a good, trustworthy company that can test our water then recommend a product without getting ripped off, I would appreciate it.
thanks