Sulfur in water

MIKE6

Was told by a pump co.my sulfur odor in the well water can be repaired with an anode change.But what I see it reduces corrosion.Also can anyone recommend a filter system to get rid of sulfur in water?

Jamie Hall

It's actually hydrogen sulphide. Smells lovely. Most iron and manganese removal ion exchange type filters will get rid of it.

Larry Weingarten

Hello, Is the odor in both hot and cold waters or just in the hot? That info will inform just how to fix it.
Yours, Larry

MIKE6

Slight odor cold side, stronger on hot side.Waiting for water test results.

Zman

When testing for sulphur, the test needs to be done quickly after sample is taken.

MIKE6

After a long delay the well pump company finally came. I have excessive iron in the well.I can change water softener pellets to those that remove iron and change anode rod .Or have a New well installed.New well 12,000 bucks. I’ll try pellets and anode rod first.

ChrisJ

MIKE6 said:

After a long delay the well pump company finally came. I have excessive iron in the well.I can change water softener pellets to those that remove iron and change anode rod .Or have a New well installed.New well 12,000 bucks. I’ll try pellets and anode rod first.

I mean,
Wouldn't the new well get the same water as the old one?

Jamie Hall

ChrisJ said:

MIKE6 said:

After a long delay the well pump company finally came. I have excessive iron in the well.I can change water softener pellets to those that remove iron and change anode rod .Or have a New well installed.New well 12,000 bucks. I’ll try pellets and anode rod first.

I mean,
Wouldn't the new well get the same water as the old one?

Yup. Unless your local geology is really strange... get the proper water treatment.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, You might want to look into shocking the well: https://www.bing.com/search?q=shocking+well&form=QBLH&sp=-1&pq=shocking+w&sc=8-10&qs=n&sk=&cvid=1BE8B63D786E4904808C5BE229483474

Yours, Larry

Jamie Hall

Larry Weingarten said:

Hi, You might want to look into shocking the well: https://www.bing.com/search?q=shocking+well&form=QBLH&sp=-1&pq=shocking+w&sc=8-10&qs=n&sk=&cvid=1BE8B63D786E4904808C5BE229483474

Yours, Larry

No harm to trying it. Though if the water is inherently high in iron or suphur, the problem will come back...

hcpatel78

I have well water Northern NJ. Similar problem. Smelly water. So I socked the well first. Then install a new softener with a big iron filter. Within a week the problem solved, Bought the water treatment appliances from www.apluswater.com

Robert_25

MIKE6 said:

Was told by a pump co.my sulfur odor in the well water can be repaired with an anode change.But what I see it reduces corrosion.Also can anyone recommend a filter system to get rid of sulfur in water?

We have a few PPM of sulfur in our water. A water softener reduced the smell, but did not eliminate it. A local water treatment guy installed a system that uses air and birm media to oxidize the sulfur. Cost was about the same as a water softener, and totally eliminated the smell from our water.

hot_rod

here is what I use at my house for that condition. When it backwashes, the water comes out blood red.

https://www.hellenbrand.com/product/commercial/filtration-systems/iron-curtain

woodrow

If you chlorinate the well you should bypass the water softner or you can destroy the resin in the softner i would run water outside it may it may oxidize the iron and make a mess depending on the type of iron also high amounts of chorline is not good on pex for extended time also iron bacteria will give you a suphur smell sometimes drilling a new well is not a good solution

Zman

It all depends on how much sulfur. With low levels, the above solutions will work. If the levels are high, you need to inject chlorine or hydrogen peroxide and then filter with RO.
As with any troubleshooting, first, run tests to evaluate the problem then work on the solution.

DCMA1

"But what I see it reduces corrosion."
The anode material also has a chemical reaction with the hydrogen sulfide.

Many years ago we were on well water and had a sulfur smell problem. It's in all the water obviously but only really noticed it on hot, which made bathing unpleasant. After spending a fortune on water treatment devices, chlorinator/dechlorinator/carbon filter, chemicals, etc., someone finally mentioned the anode material in the water heater, maybe the heating element, too. Changed it. Problem gone. Trashed all the other expensive equipment.

Change the anode first.

DCMA1

Maybe wasn't clear -don't change the anode for the same type, you swap materials.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, I've found that if the sulfur odor is coming from the water heater, than replacing the sacrificial anode with a powered anode nearly always fixes the problem. This somehow prevents hydrogen gas from being generated inside of the tank and the sulfate reducing bacteria, that causes the odor don't appreciate it.

Yours, Larry