What does it mean when your tap water smells like rotten eggs?
What does it mean when your tap water smells like rotten eggs?
hydrogen sulfide gas
Is rotten egg smelling water harmful?
In most cases drinking water that has a strong rotten egg odor, although particularly unpleasant, is perfectly safe to drink. However in some rare occasions the odor may be caused by sewage or other contaminates in a building's water supply, which could cause health problems.Apr 12, 2017
How do I fix smelly tap water?
- Fill a glass with water from the sink that has the smell, then step away from the sink and swirl the water around inside the glass a few times. ...
- Flush and disinfect the drain by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour half a cup of vinegar.
Does rotten egg smell go away?
But concentrated chlorination treatment, which involves adding a limited supply of chlorine bleach to your water supply, can actually help get rid of that rotten egg smell. ... The sulfuric smell in your water may also return months after you have completed the chlorination process, so this is not a long-term solution.Mar 5, 2021
Is it safe to shower in water that smells like sulfur?
It's perfectly safe to shower in sulfur water. Doing so won't endanger your health or wellbeing. Having said that, the presence of sulfur water in your plumbing might cause it to rust or corrode over time. Especially if the sulfur water contains high amounts of hydrogen sulfide.
What happens if you drink water that smells like sulfur?
Sulfur is found in many foods and is considered a vital part of a healthy diet, but too much sulfur in your drinking water can lead to diarrhea and dehydration. Sulfur not only stinks and makes your water taste bad, it can also stain your sinks, toilets, and clothing and even damage plumbing.Feb 3, 2017
What to do about water that smells like rotten eggs?
Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.
Can you get sick from smelly water?
Sulfur bacteria alone is not a threat to your wellbeing, but it promotes the growth of other harmful materials such as iron bacteria that can clog wells, plumbing and irrigation systems. Elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide can harm you by causing nausea, headaches, delirium and convulsions.
What causes foul smelling water?
The usual odors are sulfur (aka “the rotten egg smell”), sewage, and chlorine bleach, which are caused by naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria and chemicals that accumulate in wells, water heaters, pipes, and sinks. Decaying organic matter (i.e. your hair, soaps, or food waste) can also cause your water to smell bad.Mar 4, 2019
What makes my water smell like rotten eggs?
If your water smells like rotten eggs, that likely indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. ... These issues can produce hydrogen sulfide, which leaves an unpleasant scent wherever it goes. Tap water that contains hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfur bacteria is sometimes referred to as sulfur water.Aug 12, 2021