How can I get rid of that? The most common reason for the odor is stagnant water in your plumbing system, particularly within the hot water heater. The best way to eliminate the odor is to purge your plumbing system by completely emptying your hot water heater.
Put bowls of baking soda or activated charcoal in the afflicted area because these materials are known to absorb and neutralize scents over time. Leave them in place for several days or weeks, replacing them as needed.
Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for all kinds of dangerous bacteria, parasites, and fungi. You definitely don't want any of of that in your body or even touching it. Stuff in there can make you very sick, and in rare cases, like the brain eating ameba Naegleria fowleri, can even kill you.
Beneficial bacteria products help to reduce smells by breaking down waste substances. Supplementing with natural bacteria products and adding activated carbon to the filter box can also provide effective filtration, removing harsh chemicals and substances that cause smelly water.
Legionella is a type of bacteria that lives in water. It likes warm places like hot tubs, fountains, and plumbing systems. If you breathe in tiny water droplets, Legionella is a severe form of pneumonia that could develop, often requires hospitalization, and could be fatal.
In some cases, the added chlorine may interact with organic materials built up in the plumbing system and add odor to the water. The odor should disappear after running the water for a few minutes.
Very small amounts of hydrogen sulfide can be removed from water with activated carbon filters (Fig. 1). Activated carbon is used as a granular form in tank-type filters and as finely divided powder in a cartridge. The hydrogen sulfide is adsorbed onto the surface of the carbon particles.
Stagnant water conditions typically result in biofilm formation, which can harbor and grow dangerous waterborne pathogens, such as legionella. In turn, there's a higher probability that standing water contains dangerous waterborne pathogens, such as legionella.
If the water is stagnant, you may start to smell rotten eggs, especially in the spring when the weather and temperature change. When the oxygen supply is low, bacteria break down the waste at the bottom of the pond or lake.
Baking soda is probably one of the most useful tools in eliminating odors from your home. Instead of masking odors like air fresheners and candles, baking soda absorbs and neutralizes them. It has a reputation for being one of the best carpet deodorizers.
A solution for removing musty smell is to sanitize your plumbing system, including your water softener, which your local EcoWater dealer can help with. Otherwise follow the process that's detailed in the owner's manual for sanitization of your water softening system.
Chlorine is the most widely used oxidant to remove odor from water, but at best deemed mildly effective. Oxygen and potassium permanganate are also only mildly effective water treatment solutions. Oxidizers such as ozone and chlorine dioxide are by far the most efficient in eliminating odor from water.
Chlorine bleach can effectively remove medium to high levels (over 6 mg/l) of hydrogen sulfide. The chlorine in the bleach chemically reacts with (oxi- dizes) the hydrogen sulfide eliminating the "rotten egg" odor. Chlorine bleach also reacts with iron or manganese, and disinfects water supplies.
The best way to eliminate the odor is to purge your plumbing system by completely emptying your hot water heater. To accomplish this, turn on the hot water at all faucets in your home, including bath and shower faucets.
At low levels, hydrogen sulfide causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Moderate levels can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, as well as coughing and difficulty in breathing. Higher levels can cause shock, convulsions, coma, and death.
Use a half gallon of bleach for a 40-gallon water heater. Reconnect the cold water inlet piping. Turn on the water supply to the water heater. Open each hot water faucet in the house, one at a time, until the chlorine bleach odor can be detected.
The Cheapest Solution: Degassing the Water
Simply pour the water into a glass and let it sit for 24 hours. The air will oxidize the sulphur out of the water and then the smell will be gone. Now, obviously, if you want more than a glass or two of water a day, you're going to want a whole-house solution.
Using a hydrogen peroxide solution of 2 pints 3% peroxide to 40 gallons of water, treat tank and run some of the solution into water lines. Let the peroxide solution set in tank and pipes for 2 hours. Solution is not toxic and requires no rinsing It kills off the bacteria.
Unusual Water Temperatures
Legionella bacteria thrive in temperatures between 20°C to 45°C, making warm water systems an ideal breeding ground. If your water temperatures shift outside of this range, it could indicate a potential Legionella risk.
Some common water-related illnesses are diarrhea, giardiasis, dysentery, typhoid fever, E. Coli infection, and salmonellosis. Adverse health effects can include pain in the gastrointestinal, reproductive, neurological systems, and other symptoms. Continuous exposure can have long-lasting health impacts.
Chemical Disinfection. Chemical disinfectants, particularly oxidizing agents such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramine, and ozone, are widely used to control Legionella spp. and protozoa—both as disinfectants in drinking water distribution systems and as secondary disinfectants within buildings.