Well water odor is truly a widespread challenge and many homeowners suffer from water which has the aroma of sulfur. This kind of water has an objectionable smell, may be hazardous to health, and is particularly destructive to plumbing as well as fixtures. In the past chlorine treatment utilizing common household laundry bleach was required to take care of smells from well water, however also had numerous undesirable and problematic side effects. In order to avoid chlorine bleach well owners are increasingly turning to hydrogen peroxide, which is more powerful in comparison with chlorine bleach yet leaves no unpleasant chemical residues.
Approximately forty-five million people in the United States or about 15% of Americans, acquire their water via non-public water wells which are not subject to U.S. government or health department laws. Internationally millions of homes use bore holes and drilled wells for their water needs. Quite a few of these private ground drinking water wells supply clean, safe, drinkable water. Even so, countless wells contain excessive sulfur odors and smell of rotten-eggs. It is a toxic gas and can be dangerous to health and is destructive to plumbing as well as appliances.
Well water containing hydrogen sulfide gas ("H2S"), has a unique "rotten egg" stench, which can be found in both cold and hot water, but often more noticeable from the hot water taps. Such water can ruin tea, coffee and drinks, and alter the appearance and taste of cooked foods. Hydrogen sulfide ("H2S") gas is a nuisance that isn't usually a hazard to health in concentrations usually present in household well water. Hydrogen sulfide may be dangerous. Usually the gas is often found well before it gets to harmful concentrations. H2S is combustible and poisonous. Whereas such levels are not common, in the event that gases are discharged in a confined area, they can result in nausea, illness, and in extreme situations, death.
Hydrogen sulfide dissolved inside well water can be corrosive to plumbing metals, such as copper, brass, steel and iron and exposed steel parts inside washing machines and other water-using appliances. Corrosion associated with steel or iron from hydrogen sulfide can create ferrous sulfide or "black water" which may discolor cutlery and brass or copper utensils. Hydrogen sulfide can even hinder the effectiveness of water softeners and filter systems.
Sulfur and iron bacteria present in groundwater use sulfates and iron for an energy source and chemically change sulfate in water and produce H2S odors. These bacteria use the sulfate available from rotting plants, rocks, or soil and frequently thrive in the water rich environment. Although harmless, this non-toxic bacteria usually exist in oxygen deficient water, such as found in deep wells as well as domestic plumbing systems. These microorganisms don't usually lead to health problems; however give rise to bad odor or tastes at lower levels.
Many homeowners inject liquid chlorine bleach into the water to take care of these odorous water problems. Chlorine bleach and especially laundry bleach can include toxic by-products such as metals as well as other toxins and aren't recommended when it comes to drinking water. The resulting chlorine residuals can leave an undesirable taste, and chlorine odors are usually found. A far better option for eradicating sulfur odor from well water is the use of hydrogen peroxide.
Peroxide is truly a potent oxidizer, much more potent than aeration, chlorine bleach or potassium permanganate. Peroxide kills sulfur odor and then decomposes into o2 and water leaving behind no trace of chemical by-products. Any time hydrogen peroxide is added to water a great deal of dissolved oxygen will be produced and a strong oxidizing effect takes place. Odors will be eradicated, microorganisms are killed, and tannin oxidized. A simple type of self-cleaning catalytic activated carbon filtration system is used following the hydrogen peroxide injection to clear out oxidized particles as well as any residual peroxide remaining within the water.
Peroxide changes sulfur odors, iron and manganese to a solid form that the catalytic carbon filter can remove. For many applications no retention tank is required, and the peroxide will be successfully eliminated by the catalytic activated carbon filter media. If the sulfur odors are extremely high, or if perhaps bacteria are present, a retention tank is used allowing the water a short amount of time make contact with the hydrogen peroxide.
The specific injection process is straightforward. A metering pump automatically inserts a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in front of an auto-backwash filtration system that contains a special type of catalytic activated carbon. The peroxide pump is set up so that whenever the well pump switches on, the peroxide pump turns on, and injects a tiny bit of peroxide. Alternatively a proportional-feed system can be used that injects more or less hydrogen peroxide based on how fast the particular water is flowing. Proportionally fed peroxide systems offer homeowners a convenient solution to inject hydrogen peroxide as the water enters the household water system and are very simple to put in place and maintain.
Approximately forty-five million people in the United States or about 15% of Americans, acquire their water via non-public water wells which are not subject to U.S. government or health department laws. Internationally millions of homes use bore holes and drilled wells for their water needs. Quite a few of these private ground drinking water wells supply clean, safe, drinkable water. Even so, countless wells contain excessive sulfur odors and smell of rotten-eggs. It is a toxic gas and can be dangerous to health and is destructive to plumbing as well as appliances.
Well water containing hydrogen sulfide gas ("H2S"), has a unique "rotten egg" stench, which can be found in both cold and hot water, but often more noticeable from the hot water taps. Such water can ruin tea, coffee and drinks, and alter the appearance and taste of cooked foods. Hydrogen sulfide ("H2S") gas is a nuisance that isn't usually a hazard to health in concentrations usually present in household well water. Hydrogen sulfide may be dangerous. Usually the gas is often found well before it gets to harmful concentrations. H2S is combustible and poisonous. Whereas such levels are not common, in the event that gases are discharged in a confined area, they can result in nausea, illness, and in extreme situations, death.
Hydrogen sulfide dissolved inside well water can be corrosive to plumbing metals, such as copper, brass, steel and iron and exposed steel parts inside washing machines and other water-using appliances. Corrosion associated with steel or iron from hydrogen sulfide can create ferrous sulfide or "black water" which may discolor cutlery and brass or copper utensils. Hydrogen sulfide can even hinder the effectiveness of water softeners and filter systems.
Sulfur and iron bacteria present in groundwater use sulfates and iron for an energy source and chemically change sulfate in water and produce H2S odors. These bacteria use the sulfate available from rotting plants, rocks, or soil and frequently thrive in the water rich environment. Although harmless, this non-toxic bacteria usually exist in oxygen deficient water, such as found in deep wells as well as domestic plumbing systems. These microorganisms don't usually lead to health problems; however give rise to bad odor or tastes at lower levels.
Many homeowners inject liquid chlorine bleach into the water to take care of these odorous water problems. Chlorine bleach and especially laundry bleach can include toxic by-products such as metals as well as other toxins and aren't recommended when it comes to drinking water. The resulting chlorine residuals can leave an undesirable taste, and chlorine odors are usually found. A far better option for eradicating sulfur odor from well water is the use of hydrogen peroxide.
Peroxide is truly a potent oxidizer, much more potent than aeration, chlorine bleach or potassium permanganate. Peroxide kills sulfur odor and then decomposes into o2 and water leaving behind no trace of chemical by-products. Any time hydrogen peroxide is added to water a great deal of dissolved oxygen will be produced and a strong oxidizing effect takes place. Odors will be eradicated, microorganisms are killed, and tannin oxidized. A simple type of self-cleaning catalytic activated carbon filtration system is used following the hydrogen peroxide injection to clear out oxidized particles as well as any residual peroxide remaining within the water.
Peroxide changes sulfur odors, iron and manganese to a solid form that the catalytic carbon filter can remove. For many applications no retention tank is required, and the peroxide will be successfully eliminated by the catalytic activated carbon filter media. If the sulfur odors are extremely high, or if perhaps bacteria are present, a retention tank is used allowing the water a short amount of time make contact with the hydrogen peroxide.
The specific injection process is straightforward. A metering pump automatically inserts a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in front of an auto-backwash filtration system that contains a special type of catalytic activated carbon. The peroxide pump is set up so that whenever the well pump switches on, the peroxide pump turns on, and injects a tiny bit of peroxide. Alternatively a proportional-feed system can be used that injects more or less hydrogen peroxide based on how fast the particular water is flowing. Proportionally fed peroxide systems offer homeowners a convenient solution to inject hydrogen peroxide as the water enters the household water system and are very simple to put in place and maintain.
About the Author:
Gerry Bulfin, who has been working with problem well water for over 25 years, is a WQA Certified water consultant and a California state licensed water treatment and distribution system operator. His must-have free guide "The Definitive Guide To Well Water Treatment" is available for a limited time from The Clean Water Store