Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

/ Purification, Safety / By

The last thing you’ll want to notice when you go to take a shower, do the dishes, or get a glass of water is the putrid smell of rotten eggs. However, this is more common than you think!

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A water supply giving off an awful smelly egg odor is a regularly reported issue, and it can freak people out.

Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs

If you wonder if your supply is tainted or if something else has gone wrong, you might even be afraid to turn on the faucet.

There’s no need to panic, though! Take a deep breath, relax.

In the vast majority of cases, an eggy smell from your water supply has a perfectly innocent cause, and apart from the smell, the water is still perfectly fine, even for drinking.

So what causes this nasty smell, and more importantly, can you get rid of it? We get to the bottom of this quite pungent issue.

What Causes A Rotten Egg Smell From Water?

The smell of rotten eggs rarely has anything to do with the cleanliness of your water. It’s typically a telltale sign of the presence of sulfur gas.

In Iceland, they draw their hot water directly from geothermal sources deep in the ground, so an eggy aroma from the shower is perfectly normal, as the water contains sulfur dioxide from volcanic activity.

In your case, the cause of your smelly water will typically be hydrogen sulfide. Even a very trace amount of hydrogen sulfide in your water can make a strong, eggy aroma.

Hydrogen sulfide becomes present in your water via sulfate. Sulfate is a naturally-occurring mineral salt found all over the environment, including in water. In your pipes, sulfate-reducing bacteria feed off of the sulfate, converting it into the smelly gas hydrogen sulfide. 

There may be food, soap, or other waste trapped in your drains, becoming a breeding ground for these bacteria.

Is it Harmful?

No, your water should still be perfectly fine to use and drink! An unpleasant smell occurs if even the most trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide are present, which is completely acceptable for water quality.

Chances are, though, you’re still not particularly fond of the smell of rotten eggs permeating your home every time you take a shower.- and you’ll want a way to eliminate it.

Thankfully, there are several things you can try before you bother the water company.

Determine The Source Of The Smell

Determine The Source Of The Smell

Determine which part of your plumbing the smell is originating from. 

  • Your water heater – If your water only smells eggy when you use the hot water functions of your home, then your water heater is the root cause of your hydrogen sulfide issue. This is a common problem as an enclosed warm water environment is a perfect breeding ground for all manner of bacteria. Usually, this will signify that your heater simply isn’t getting hot enough and may require repair or replacement. Many other, more harmful bacteria, such as legionella, may grow in the tepid conditions of your faulty water heater. The eggy smell may help you catch the issue before it causes serious damage to your health.
  • Your water supply –  If the smell occurs from both hot and cold water, then the hydrogen sulfide is probably being created in your broader plumbing. This can be determined by running the taps for a period and seeing if the smell eventually dissipates. You should also try different water sources around the house. If the smell is coming from a faucet downstairs but not the one upstairs, for example, you’ve just localized the problem, which will make it easier to treat.
  • Your neighborhood water supply – If the smell does not dissipate while running the water, this suggests that the problem is much larger than your own plumbing. Speak to neighbors to see if they are experiencing the same issue, and if so, immediately call your water supplier for advice and follow all of their instructions.

Solutions If Your Supply Is Affected

So hydrogen sulfide is a minor issue, but it’s still unpleasant and if left untreated could cause corrosion damage to your plumbing. Handily, there are several methods of treatment you can try yourself:

Clear Your Pipes

The first thing you should try is running all the faucets in your home for an extended period (such as ten minutes or so) until the smell clears. This could clear the built-up gas from your plumbing.

Flush Your Water Heater

If you have determined that your heater is the cause, you can try to flush it yourself.

Leave your water supply connected. Take a length of hose, and run it from the drain valve of your heater to somewhere outside where you can let excess water flow. Allow the water to drain for ten minutes or so.

After ten minutes, take a sample of the water by filling up a cup from the hose. If the water is fully clear of sediment, you’re good to go!

Disinfect Your Water Heater

Turn your water heater up high (over 160 degrees) and allow it to run for a few hours.

If your heater isn’t reaching these temperatures, then it needs to be repaired or replaced, or you could be tainting your water supply with dangerous bacteria.

If after trying all of these methods, you still notice an eggy smell, then it’s time to call in a water treatment expert. This is also true if your water supply comes from a groundwater or well source. The solution requires expert hands to solve, as the source itself must be treated.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the source of the eggy smell is probably sulfate in the water. While it’s not dangerous to your health, it can indicate an issue within your pipes or water heater. Luckily, you can resolve the issue with our simple guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6U8fu0oidQ
Mandy Anderson
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