Unpleasant Smell of Water

 

By far, the most common cause of bad smelly water is bacteria and sulfates . The bacteria and sulfates react with other minerals in the water, as well as with the aluminum anodes in your hot water heater, and this reaction releases a hydrogen sulfide gas. The hydrogen sulfide gas has a rotten egg and sewer odor that is unpleasant. There are four common factors that are present in the water which cause this odor to develop:

 

• A high concentration of sulfate in the raw water

 

• Sulfate reducing bacteria

 

• Little or no dissolved oxygen in the water

 

• Hydrogen (a component may be present due to water conditions reacting with the anode)