Sulfur Water. What to Do?

[Steelfan]

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

[Hakim]

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.

[Steelfan]

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

[Hakim]

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 $$$.
[img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Steelfan]

Thanks for the heads up on the costs, Hakim. I'll make sure to check into that when I start looking.

Kent

[Mike_Dumond]

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.

[Steelfan]

Wow Mike,

That's exactly what I wanted to hear. [img]/forums/images/icons/cool.gif[/img] 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

[rlw]

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.

[Steelfan]

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

[rlw]

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.