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Steelfan
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Sulfur Water. What to Do?
09/22/02 08:27 AM
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We have two wells on our property. Well number one is hand dug, and only about 35- 40 feet deep. When its dry like this year, it runs out of water. Well number two is down about 200 feet, but is a Sulfur water well. I would like to find an inexpensive way of removing or toning down the smell of sulfur in the water. I had an acid neutralizer, and water softner installed for the hand dug well. Can anyone tell me if these units will help with the sulfur well? There is always a lot of air in the sulfur water. Thanks in advance for any help.
Kent
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Hakim
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/22/02 09:43 AM
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Hi,
A carbon filtration unit will usually take care of the sulphur smell. Price can vary, but should be available for a couple of hundred bucks or less.
Hakim Chishti
Staff/Moderator
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Steelfan
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Hakim]
09/22/02 09:56 AM
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Thanks Hakim,
I'll definitely look into it. My wife is driving me crazy about doing something about it. Is that just a inline filter, or does it have a tank like a water softner? Thanks again.
Kent
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Hakim
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/22/02 11:01 AM
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Just an inline filter. You can get the large sized tank, or just the inline. Check out the frequency for replacing or recharging the carbon filters though.
We use a stand alone tank which filters the whole house system (from a well). We have the have the unit "recharged" every 12 mmonths, for around $100.
We used to have an Agway inline unit. It cost about $40 for new filters, which were required every 30-60 days.
Just be sure to figure in the cost of changing filters.
Also, probably DO NOT get quotes from the big "brand name" water treatment companies (Culligan, etc.). They will try to "load you up" --- multi-thousand $$$.
Hakim Chishti
Staff/Moderator
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Steelfan
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Loc: Central PA, Near the site of the Largest Inflatable Dam in the US.
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Hakim]
09/22/02 03:14 PM
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Thanks for the heads up on the costs, Hakim. I'll make sure to check into that when I start looking.
Kent
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Mike_Dumond
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/22/02 05:41 PM
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Many people experience the "rotten egg" smell that accompanies sulfur water, but it is interesting to note that the smell is only part of the problem.
Sulfur can appear in water in two different forms: as hydrogen sulfide gas or as a sulfate salt. The two forms react differently when combined with water, so it is important to determine which is responsible for the water's problems before deciding on the proper treatment method.
HYDROGEN SULFIDE - Hydrogen sulfide gas is flammable and poisonous in high concentrations. When hydrogen sulfide is introduced to water, a "rotten egg" smell and taste may result. Hydrogen sulfide can also be responsible for tarnished silverware, yellow or black stains on fixtures, and is very detrimental to electronics. Coffee, tea, and other beverages may be discolored, and the appearance and taste of food may be distorted. Along with these unpleasant characteristics, the gas can also cause accelerated pipe corrosion. Water contaminated with hydrogen sulfide is often called "sulfur water" and is typically found in shallow or deep groundwater wells.
Hydrogen sulfide is a problem which can be corrected after careful diagnosis. Before selecting a treatment method, it is important to determine the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the water supply. Hydrogen sulfide water problems are usually corrected using oxidizing or aerating techniques.
An oxidation method will remove contaminants from water through a chemical reaction. Aerating is the process of exposing water to oxygen. The oxygen can kill certain contaminants and is especially good at removing the "rotten egg" smell caused by hydrogen sulfide gas.
When the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is below 6 mg/L, an oxidizing filter may be used. When levels exceed 6 mg/L, chemical oxidation is recommended.
SULFATES - Sulfates result from the combination of sulfur and oxygen and are very common in water supplies. At high levels they are associated with a bitter taste in water and with having a laxative effect. They are most harmful for travelers, infants, and new residents in a community- those people having been exposed to the water for less than 12 weeks. Many metal-sulfate salts are virtually insoluble.
Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry (POU/POE) units are a good option for treating sulfates. Changing filters on a routine basis and checking that the system is working adequately at least every six months is important.
Sulfur concentrations in water vary from region to region. Having your water tested by a Certified Water Specialist will result in an accurate analysis, determining which treatment option will be most effective.
So others may live
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Steelfan
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Mike_Dumond]
09/22/02 06:43 PM
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Wow Mike,
That's exactly what I wanted to hear.  I wanted to see what my options, and also where I stand. I felt maybe this was the right place to ask the question. Thanks for the your expertise , and I definitely will remember all of this when I decide what to do. Thanks again, Mike
Kent
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rlw
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/23/02 08:02 AM
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I recommend having 3 or 4 local water softener/conditioner companies come out and test your water and make their recommendations. Each of them will test your water and likely have different solutions. Make sure you write down the water test numbers from each company to make sure they are all reasonably consistant. Make sure they actually test for sulfur. I had 4 guys come out to my place to test and make suggestions. 3 of them actually tested for sulfur and found essentially none, while the other simply smelled the water and said "yep you've got sulfur in your water" and promptly showed me a $3500 solution. I said thanks and goodbye to him.
Point is, some guys are out to make a buck and others actually want to sell you the "right" solution. Also, by getting a "professional"? recommendation, you may save yourself from making the wrong self-diagnosis. Once you hear the options, you can make your own decision. The great thing about the internet, is that you can go online and see if you can purchase the equipment cheaper, or use your internet findings as a negotiation with the locals on price.
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Steelfan
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: rlw]
09/23/02 08:47 AM
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Thanks rlw,
That's some great advice. So what you are telling me, that even though your water smelled of "Rotten Eggs", you didn't have sulfur? If you don't mind me asking, what did they find?
I just assumed the smell , and such came from Sulfur. Thanks for the post.
Kent
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rlw
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/23/02 09:52 AM
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I suspect that a true lab analysis would have shown some sulfur content, but the dropper type tests used by the salesmen basically didn't register any. (My water odor wasn't very strong, but was noticeable.) I can't recall exactly, but I believe that I had a fairly high amount of iron - which if it remember right, also can mean iron bacteria - which can add odor.
My final solution was a water softener with a "custom" mineral tank. It has the standard softener beads plus a layer of manganese greensand, maybe another layer of something else too. The greensand is for odor and any sulfur that may be present. The end result is that we have good water.
I've read about and had been recommended to perform a "shock" treatment to the well also to help eliminate any bacteria. I have the chlorine to do it, but never got around to it though.
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Hakim
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/23/02 09:56 AM
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High potassium can also cause "rotten egg" smell.
You might get good info from calling up the local "water treatment" people. I went to the local water/testing lab (ask a real estate agent who they use for water testing). I paid
around $200 for the full analysis. I wanted to MAKE SURE of the condition of my water supply.
Suich labs are independent, licesned by the state, and sell no equipment. I got the whole assay of almost 200 different components, including fertilizer, chemical contaminants, nuclear, etc.
All of the local water treatment companies will likely get different results. It would be okay for a quick test (you can get similar testing kits from a local swimming pool supply).
You have a lot of good ideas here. Let us know what you find out as you move along.
Hakim Chishti
Staff/Moderator
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tenebrous
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/23/02 05:06 PM
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Looks like you have all the information in the other replies. Just wanted to add that you should let a few companies come in and test the water. When I did this, the results were all over the place. Some of these guys don't know what they are doing.
I took a sample to an independent lab and had the water tested myself. Three of the five companies that made bids were close enough to have solved the problems but two were completely wrong. Their systems would not have solved all the problems.
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Steelfan
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/23/02 05:43 PM
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Thanks to all of you Gentlemen. I'm getting a some great feedback here. They say that you learn something new everyday, but I think I learn more then that here. Thanks again , Kent
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egon
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
09/24/02 09:47 PM
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Just curious:
Will the air in the sulfur water catch on fire if you hold a match to it?
Egon
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Steelfan
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: egon]
09/25/02 04:05 PM
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Wow, I never tried that one. 
Kent
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dummy
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Mike_Dumond]
10/04/02 11:23 AM
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What test do they use for hydrogen sulfide? Sounds like my water, yellow stains and smelly, but all the tests I can find through the local labs and health dept. just cover the standard iron, hardness, etc. which are all fine. Even called a couple places like Culligan. They all said, "get a water softener, that'll fix it". When I asked if I could get a refund if it didn't, they all said NO. Suggestions?
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Mike_Dumond
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: dummy]
10/04/02 11:36 AM
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what state you in????
So others may live
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dummy
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Mike_Dumond]
10/04/02 12:13 PM
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Maryland. Looking for a good lab that can identify what is wrong. I don't mind spending money to fix stuff right, I HATE spending money to fix things wrong though.
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Gatorboy
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: dummy]
10/04/02 01:20 PM
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When I lived in Florida, I had a well which of course had stinky sulphur water.
The system they installed for me was comprised of an aerator -- big white container which held about 100 gallons of water and a water softener. I am not quite sure how the aerator worked, but I think it forced the water into this tank through some small spray-like means to force out the gas in the water. Then this would pass through into the water softener.
The water smelled and tasted great!
:: D A V E
:: g a t o r b o y
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Mike_Dumond
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: dummy]
10/04/02 10:02 PM
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Cooperative Extension System, Cornell University, University of Maryland 1-800-342-2507
They should be able to help you with a complete test
So others may live
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Alan_L_Texas
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
10/05/02 12:13 AM
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Around here, where you have water that smells like rotten eggs, they recommend using an old type standard galvanized pressure tank rather than bladder tank so that the water makes contact with air. They say this causes the sulfide gas thats dissolved in the water to oxidize and releases into the air. I put in such a tank on the assumption that I would have the problem since my nearest neighbor does, but I have never smelled any such smell from my water, and frankly wonder whether my water has the problem at all.
Alan L. - Texas
North of Mustang
South of Bugtussle
On the Banks of Buck Creek
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Steelfan
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Thanks for the suggestion, Alan. I'm not sure if they sell that type of tank anymore around these parts. Thanks again.
Kent
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dummy
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Mike_Dumond]
10/17/02 11:21 AM
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Wherever you got that number from, it's been superceded. That number now goes to the university's garden information center. Got an email address from them to the dept. of health, described my problem in detail and got this in reply:
The smell could be from two possible sources:
1. If the house was vacant for a while, the smell could have built up in the hot water heater tank or holding tank. Flushing the tank should alleviate the problem.
2. Your well could be affected by the drought. If it turns out to be a problem with the well, you may have to drill deeper.
There are three methodologies approved by the Safe Drinking Water Program for sulfate:
1. Ion Chromatography - EPA method 300.0, ASTM method D4327-91, or Standard Methods 4110B.
2. Automated Methylthymol Blue - EPA method 375.2, or Standard Methods 4500-SO4-F.
3. Gravimetric Method with Ignition of Residue - Standard Methods 4500-SO4-C and D.
Sorry for the late reply, been a little hectic lately. So, back where I started. Thanks for the help though.
Edited by dummy (10/17/02 11:26 AM)
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b249
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
02/11/03 04:56 AM
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After we installed our softener our H2O developed a sulfer smell. The wife was not at all happy w/ this. Turns out it (as I recall, anyway) was a chemical reaction with the "softened" water and the sacrificial anode in the hot water tank. I removed the sacrificial anode and put a plug in; a short time later the smell was gone.
Don't know if it'll work for you though. Good Luck!!
b249
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cam0148
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Re: Sulfur Water. What to Do?
[re: Steelfan]
06/06/03 12:49 PM
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I have tried numerous different devices to get rid of the sulfer smell.
Depending on how bad the smell is the small $40 carbon filters will probably not work. I have tried a large ($1000) potassum permangante (spl?) system and that did not work very well at all. Finally I purchased a Inline Chlorination System. Basically a smaller version of what the city's use to treat their water. It consists of a 80g holding tank with a small pressure system to feed the house. The holding tank is then treated with chlorine to kill the bactiera.
The system works extreamly well and I have had no complaints or smell at all. My wife is now very happy!!
The system is expensive, I paid $5000 (canandian that is) for the system and would easily do it again if needed.
Jeff
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