Have you every turned on your faucet and your nose is hit with an unpleasant smell? There are many reasons why your water might have an odor, and if the smell is new, it’s important to get down to the bottom of what it might be. Some smells can indicate issues that would be concerning to your health if you continue to consume your water.
One of the most common odors we hear about is a sulfur or rotten egg smell. This could be a number of different things, including hydrogen sulfide, bacteria or even your hot water heater. Hot water heaters have a corrosion protection rod made of magnesium; this rod can undergo chemical and biological reactions which cause a sulfur smell. If the hot water heater is the culprit, you will only smell the odor when hot water is in use. You can test this further by putting cold water in a pan and heating it on the stove, if this water still smells of rotten eggs, there may be another reason for the odor. A test for coliform and E.coli bacteria or a heterotrophic plate count (HPC) should be completed to make sure it isn’t bacterial contamination. If this is not the issue, a test for hydrogen sulfide can be completed.
Hydrogen sulfide is the byproduct of sulfur-reducing bacteria or sulfur-containing chemical reactions found in environments that lack oxygen, like your well. Sulfur-reducing bacteria and these reactions are not a health hazard, but their presence can be off-putting. Homes located near wetlands and swampy areas can also be prone to this odor. A treatment specialist will be able to set up a filter or aerator to remove this smell.
There are other minerals and contaminants can cause odd smells in your water. If you are noticing an earthy or dirt-like smell, this could be iron bacteria. This is another bacterium that is not harmful to your health, but can build up in your hot water heater or in the back of your toilet tank and cause your drinking water to have a foul taste.
If you are noticing a fishy odor to your water, this could be organic material or elevated levels of chloramines, barium and cadmium. Metallic aromas can be caused by iron, or if your water’s pH is low, this can cause corrosion of pipes and plumbing fixtures. If you notice this smell, it would be a good idea to also test for copper and lead, as these metals can be hazardous, especially to young children. Manganese, if present in high levels, can cause an odor similar to asphalt, and can be accompanied by black particulates floating in the water.
There are some aromas that could mean something is very wrong and you should stop drinking your water and test as soon as possible. One of these is a sewage smell, this could mean a septic failure and raw sewage leaking into your well. A test for bacteria as well as nitrate and nitrite should be done in this case. If you are suddenly smelling a fuel or diesel smell, this could mean a rare leak from underground tanks or drilling operations have occurred. If you believe this to be true, testing for volatile organic compounds, or VOC’s should be done.
Unpleasant stenches can also be caused by the buildup of organic matter, soaps and food waste that are trapped in your plumbing. If the smell goes away after running the water for a few minutes, this could mean the issue is within your plumbing fixtures or pipes. Any new odor should be investigated, speak to us or your water treatment specialist to help determine the right testing to get you on your way to funk-free water.
