Odor in well water is a common challenge and many homeowners struggle with water which smells like sulfur. This water has an undesirable smell, it can be dangerous to health, and is particularly destructive to piping and fixtures. In the past chlorine treatment using common household laundry bleach was typically used to take care of smells from well water. Chlorine leaves behind chemical tastes, odors and residues and can have adverse side effects. Now homeowners can use 7% hydrogen peroxide to eliminate odors without any of the unpleasant chlorine residuals.
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 absorbed in water can easily corrode plumbing metals, including copper, brass, steel and iron as well as exposed metal parts inside washing machines as well as other water-using appliances. Corrosion of iron and steel as a result of hydrogen sulfide forms black water, or ferrous sulfide which can discolor silverware and brass or copper utensils. Hydrogen sulfide can even hinder the effectiveness of filtration systems and water softeners.
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 owners inject liquid chlorine bleach into their well water to take care of these kinds of stinky water problems. Chlorine bleach and particularly laundry washing bleach might include toxic by-products such as heavy-metals in addition to impurities and are not recommended for potable water. The resulting chlorine residues can leave a bad flavor, and chlorine smells are usually found. A much better option for eliminating sulfur odor from well water is by using hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is really a potent oxidizing agent, much more powerful when compared with air diffusion, chlorine bleach or even potassium permanganate. Hydrogen peroxide kills odors rapidly, after which it decomposes into oxygen and water. This process leaves behind no trace of chemical by-products. Any time peroxide is added to water a large amount of dissolved oxygen will be produced and a powerful oxidizing effect occurs. Sulfur odors are eliminated; microorganisms are killed, as well as tannins can be oxidized. A simple type of auto back washing catalytic carbon filtration system is used after the peroxide injection to take out oxidized particles and 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 absorbed in water can easily corrode plumbing metals, including copper, brass, steel and iron as well as exposed metal parts inside washing machines as well as other water-using appliances. Corrosion of iron and steel as a result of hydrogen sulfide forms black water, or ferrous sulfide which can discolor silverware and brass or copper utensils. Hydrogen sulfide can even hinder the effectiveness of filtration systems and water softeners.
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 owners inject liquid chlorine bleach into their well water to take care of these kinds of stinky water problems. Chlorine bleach and particularly laundry washing bleach might include toxic by-products such as heavy-metals in addition to impurities and are not recommended for potable water. The resulting chlorine residues can leave a bad flavor, and chlorine smells are usually found. A much better option for eliminating sulfur odor from well water is by using hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is really a potent oxidizing agent, much more powerful when compared with air diffusion, chlorine bleach or even potassium permanganate. Hydrogen peroxide kills odors rapidly, after which it decomposes into oxygen and water. This process leaves behind no trace of chemical by-products. Any time peroxide is added to water a large amount of dissolved oxygen will be produced and a powerful oxidizing effect occurs. Sulfur odors are eliminated; microorganisms are killed, as well as tannins can be oxidized. A simple type of auto back washing catalytic carbon filtration system is used after the peroxide injection to take out oxidized particles and 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 specialist and a California state licensed water treatment and distribution system operator. His comprehensive free guide "The Definitive Guide To Well Water Treatment" is available for a limited time from The Clean Water Store
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