Does your water smell like rotten eggs? Hydrogen sulphide is known for having a very distinct smell of rotten eggs. Water high in sulphur often smells horrible and leaves white, grey, or black stains behind. These stains are caused by sulphur-oxidizing bacteria and can corrode your pipes and metal components.
Hydrogen sulphide gas is naturally produced when organic matter present underground decays. Most hydrogen sulphide is produced by a bacteria that feeds on sulphur and live in low oxygen environments such as in deep wells and water distribution systems.
While hydrogen sulphide is a poisonous gas, the levels this type of gas is found in water are more of a nuisance than a health threat. If your water has high sulphur content, it will taste bitter making it unpleasant to drink and can also affect the taste of foods cooked using it. Another problem is the foul odour that bursts as soon as you open your faucets.
However, apart from taste and smell, a major problem attributed to excessive hydrogen sulphide in water is the damage it causes to plumbing systems. Hydrogen sulphide reacts with water to form sulphurous acid which is highly soluble in water and has a corrosive nature.
As a result, it may damage pipes and leave nasty stains in toilets, tubs, faucets, sinks, and silverware. It may also lead to leaks in pipes leading to expensive repairs and replacements. In rare cases, the presence of hydrogen sulphide may also indicate that your water has been contaminated by sewage.
There are many ways to remove sulphur from water and most operate on the principle of oxidizing the sulphur to change its state from gas to solid. Once in the solid-state, the sulphur particles can be simply filtered out.
At Watercare, we generally use activated carbon filters and aeration to remove sulphur from water. An aeration system comprises an aeration tank, aeration spray system, booster pump, and activated carbon column filter. This process involves the water being supplied to the aeration tank from the pump via aeration nozzle fitted in the tank. This allows the water to be exposed to the atmosphere resulting in the dissipation of the hydrogen sulphide.
The water is once again pressurized by the use of a booster pump which supplies water to the property through an activated carbon filter. It absorbs the gas on its surface and polishes the water removing even slightest traces of hydrogen sulphide gas from water.
Specialist water treatment systems from Watercare can help reduce contaminants that cause unpleasant odours and taste in your water. Unlike other treatment systems that can be complex and cumbersome to maintain, we would install a system that is inexpensive and simple to use.
With extensive experience dealing with private wells, we are confident in our ability to deliver you the best water in your home. Simply contact us and we can suggest the next course of action.