Of all the things you want to come out of your tap, the smell of rotten eggs isn't one of them. You may even panic a bit wondering if it is safe to drink. It is definitely something you don't forget and a thing you want to do something about. It is exactly that musty smell of rotten eggs, mixed in with a kind of earthy smell. The cause of this smell is hydrogen sulfide and it only takes a tiny amount to cause this smell.
In most cases, hydrogen sulfide in water is not dangerous to consume if you can get past its odor. Get your water tested though to make sure it is safe and to check what the problem is. Concentrated amounts of hydrogen sulfide make water taste unusually unpleasant, especially if you are a bit picky about your water taste.
What's more, it sometimes has a mild laxative effect on people or animals that drink it - so be warned! You can get help with your concerns and what action to take from your local health department. Due to the unpleasant smell, water companies work hard to avoid this problem though.
The hydrogen sulfide is actually from the filtration process of your tap water. The water picks up hydrogen sulfide from decaying plants in lakes and reservoirs or from certain minerals present in the rocks. In fact, high levels of hydrogen sulfide can even turn the color of the water black. Apart from the effects on taste, hydrogen sulfide can slowly eat away at metals and reduce the effectiveness of any laundry detergents you use.
The states of Minnesota and Indiana are the two most likely places you will encounter the effect. A common cause it the drilling into shale or sandstone in and around oil fields. Another rare cause for elevated levels can be the seeping of sewage into groundwater supplies.
OPTIONS TO COUNTER-ACT HYDROGEN SULFIDE
AUTOMATIC CHLORINATION: If you want to rid your water of hydrogen sulfide, then an automatic chlorinator is a good option. After this, you simply filter the chlorine from the water and you can use it to drink or cook with.
IRON FILTER: An iron filter removes up to 10 milligrams per liter of hydrogen sulfide from water. The complicated and difficult to maintain nature of these filters though puts many people off.
AERATION SYSTEM: The third option is an aeration system, but would need very careful and diligent maintenance.
DRILL A NEW WELL: If all of these options sound too complicated, you could consider drilling a new well and installing a reverse osmosis system to remove the sulfates. Although, there is no guarantee that your new well water would not have sulfide in it as well.
Before spending a lot of money on a cure, make sure the smell is actually the water. A blocked drain or something else in the kitchen can cause a similar smell. In the case you do have a hydrogen sulfide problem with your water though, you can use some of the suggestions above to limit itsdisruption. Individuals who have contacted water filtration companies are able to troubleshoot how to resolve their drinking water issues successfully.
Author Resource:
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