Well water question

[RU482]

I'm checking in on a house for a friend that is on vacation for a couple of weeks. Today I was over there, and I let the water run for a while. It started reaking of a sulfur type smell after a minute or so.

They live in a rural subdivision, so they have their own well.

What could be causing that smell??
My wife thinks its something dead in the well. any ideas?

 

[FoBoT]

probably just due to low usage

run it for 5 minutes everyday and see if it stops doing it after 2-3 days

it is probably "normal" , but they don't notice it due to it always being run, so it doesn't build up

 

[tfinch2]

Is it constant or after you leave the water running for awhile? Where is the septic tank located?

 

[IronWing]

Here ya go:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/hydrosulfide.html

 

[mercanucaribe]

I wouldn't drink water from a well without distilling it. Do you have any idea what ends up in the ground water and aquifers? Everything on the ground.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Here ya go:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/hydrosulfide.html

awesome, thanks. I mean yikes. Scary thought that their water heater might be a catalyst for the smell.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Is it constant or after you leave the water running for awhile? Where is the septic tank located?

It's a 15 or so year old house. They left on Sunday, and it's a family of 5, so I assume they use alot of water.

The smell did not go away. I bet I ran at least 20 gallons of water and it did not decrease in intensity. Yikes

 

[Pacfanweb]

Get the water analyzed.

 

[BoomerD]

H2S is some NASTY stuff. I'd hate to have it in my water system in large enough concentration to smell it...I worked the sour gas fields in Wyoming 20-odd years ago...NASTY stuff...Sounds like their well may need some service when they get back IF it is indeed H2S that's the cause, and not something else...

 

[HomeAppraiser]

When selling a rural property everyone around here just dumps a gallon of bleach in the well before the required State bacteria test.

 

[olds]

The water is corroding his copper pipes. This can be typical for untreated water in certain conditions.
Since they are gone, the water has just been sitting in the pipes. Letting the water run will clear up the smell.

 

[GeekDrew]

Yeah... just let it run for a while, the smell will disappear. I'm all too familiar with this. :'(

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The water is corroding his copper pipes. This can be typical for untreated water in certain conditions.
Since they are gone, the water has just been sitting in the pipes. Letting the water run will clear up the smell.

It does, sulphur water from wells are common in Florida. Letting it run for a few days may clear it up. If that does not work then you will need to buy an aerator to get rid of the smell.


http://www.waterefining.com/

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The water is corroding his copper pipes. This can be typical for untreated water in certain conditions.
Since they are gone, the water has just been sitting in the pipes. Letting the water run will clear up the smell.

It does, sulpher water is common in Florida. Letting it run for a few days may clear it up. If that does not work then you will need to buy an aerator to get rid of the smell.


http://www.waterefining.com/

We use a media filter at the well to treat ours. Then it run to a 2 stage string filter and to a special tap on the sink. It goes thru one more filter to the fridge.

 

[Shimmishim]

i'm an environmental engineering major tha just graduated.

groundwater that contains hydrogen sulfide is anoxic... meaning there's no oxygen in the water.

hydrogen sulfide is a VERY VERY bad gas... more toxic than cyanide.

a prolong exposure to this gas can cause you problems so be sure that when you are letting the water run that there is plenty of ventilation.

the best solution for this is to aerate the water before you drink it (i'd recommend this to them).

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Here ya go:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/hydrosulfide.html

Interesting. I sometimes smell sulfur when I turn on my shower. Our water comes from 11 wells scattered around the area.

That 'spalins it.