How to Remove the Rotten Egg Smell From Well Water
The rotten-egg smell in well water is caused by hydrogen sulfide. This compound is a common contaminant of well water and usually comes from coal deposits. The odor of hydrogen sulfide is normally detectable at much lower concentrations than the toxic level, so this problem is usually a cosmetic rather than a safety problem. You can remove the smell of rotten eggs from your well water with household bleach. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Wrench
- 2 gallons household bleach
- 12 gallon container
- Water
- Garden hose
Instructions
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1
Unplug your well pump and remove the cap to your wellhead with a wrench. Gently pull the electrical wiring for the pump out of the well casing, being careful to not disconnect the wiring. This will prevent bleach from corroding the wiring.
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2
Buy 2 gallons household bleach. This should be a 5.25 percent solution of sodium hypochlorite that doesn't contain dyes or perfumes. Pour the bleach into a container that can hold at least 12 gallons and add 10 gallons of water. Mix the solution thoroughly and pour it into the wellhead. Plug your well pump back on.
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3
Connect one end of a garden hose to the outside faucet nearest your wellhead and place the other end at least 3 feet down the wellhead. Open the faucet as far as possible and run the water for about 15 minutes. Turn the water off and remove the hose from the wellhead. Put the electrical wiring for the pump into its original position and close the well cap.
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4
Open all of the faucets in your house and flush the toilets repeatedly. Turn each faucet off and stop flushing each toilet when you smell bleach coming from it.
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5
Allow your well water stand for eight to 24 hours without using it.
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6
Place the open end of your garden hose in a location where the chlorinated water won't harm any plants and turn the faucet on. Run the water for up to two hours until you no longer smell bleach coming from the hose.
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7
Run water from all the indoor outlets until the water no longer smells like bleach.
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