How to Remove the Rotten Egg Smell in Water

Written by:
George Simms
Plumber & Contractor

If you smell a putrid odor whenever you turn on your kitchen, bathroom, or shower faucets, this indicates there’s some kind of problem with an aspect of your water supply or plumbing system.
In instances like these, it’s useful to know how to locate the rotten egg smell source. Is it coming from your pipes, water heater, your household’s groundwater supply, or the new water softener you installed last year?
"Once you understand this odor’s origin, you can follow a few simple steps to help solve the problem and eliminate the smell."
What’s Causing the Rotten Egg Smell in Your Water?

If there’s a rotten egg smell in your water, it probably means there is hydrogen sulfide gas in your household’s supply.
In addition to emitting a putrid odor, this gas can also have harmful effects on your physical health. If you breathe in too much hydrogen sulfide, you can damage your respiratory system and trigger feelings of nausea.
How to Find the Source of the Smell
You must be systematic when you’re searching for the source of the rotten egg smell. Here are some useful steps to take.
Step 1: Check each of your faucets
Step 2: Check faucets that don’t link up to your water softener

Step 3: Keep the water running and see if the smell changes
"If the smell remains the same for several minutes, there’s likely an excess amount of hydrogen sulfide in your groundwater supply. "
How to Remove the Smell From Your Water Supply
Once you’ve zoned in on the source of the rotten egg smell in your water, you can address the problem effectively and efficiently. You’ll need to modify your approach, depending on where the hydrogen sulfide is coming from.
1. By Using Water heater
The magnesium anode works as a sacrificial rod, reacting with the oxygen in the tank’s water to prevent this oxygen from rusting the tank’s inner lining. This process is useful, but it means that the rod corrodes quickly. When it breaks down, the magnesium reacts with any sulfate molecules in the water supply, creating hydrogen sulfide gas.

Your plumber may also use chlorine-based solutions like bleach to sanitize and disinfect the water in your heater. If you do this yourself, wear rubber household gloves to protect your skin against irritation.
2. Buy a Water softener
You can also call your state health department if you’re having trouble communicating with the machine’s manufacturer.
3. Repair Your Well or Plumbing
Contact your local council or hire a professional water well contractor who can effectively treat and destroy the sulfur microbes in your well or plumbing system.4. Check Groundwater supply
If you’re sure the problem is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide or sulfur molecules in your household’s groundwater supply, contact local authorities to see if there’s a possibility of creating a new, man-made well in a safer area.
The Takeaway

About the Author
George Simms is a Salt Lake City based plumber and contractor, with a focus on aiding homes and businesses (particularly farm) solve problems with hard and contaminated water. Walter is here to share his wealth of job experience and a knowledge of both modern and antique plumbing.
Last Updated on April 13, 2021