Six Tips if your water smells like rotten eggs

WHAT CAUSES WATER THAT SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS?

Before we explore specific tips, here’s a quick primer on what’s causing that eggy smell. The culprit is usually hydrogen sulfide gas produced by sulfur-reducing bacteria.

It’s common in wells, but it can also occur in plumbing systems or groundwater. These bacteria can get into the water from agricultural runoff, an animal falling into the well and dying, or simply because a well is too shallow.

Luckily, a rotten egg smell doesn’t mean the water is necessarily unsafe — but it can still be off-putting.

CHECK THE COLD AND HOT WATER
The first step you should try is to see if the problem is happening with both cold and hot water. Turn both faucets on separately to see if they both smell. If only the hot water smells, it likely indicates a problem with your water heater.

LET THE WATER RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES
If the rotten egg smell seems to get better after a few minutes, it likely indicates that the sulfur bacteria is inside your well or plumbing system instead of the groundwater supply. You may need to call in a plumber or well technician to clean out your pipes.

REPLACE THE MAGNESIUM ANODE
If you’ve narrowed the issue to the water heater, the next step is to replace the magnesium anode. This is usually connected to a plug at the top of the tank. Just keep in mind, though, that this may shorten the life of your heater, so consider replacing it with an aluminum anode instead.

CLEAN OUT THE WATER HEATER
You may also want to disinfect the water heater. To do this, use a chlorine bleach solution to flush the tank, as this kills sulfur bacteria.

TURN UP THE WATER HEATER
Another step you can take is to turn up the heat in your tank. Temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit should kill sulfur bacteria after a few hours. Flush the tank once you’re all finished. Keep in mind, this is not a long-term solution — it's more of a one-time fix.

TRY A WATER SOFTENER OR A CHLORINATOR ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER
If the problem seems to be with the groundwater itself, the best solution is to have a water softener installed by a professional water treatment company. These can oxidize and trap iron particles that sulfur-reducing bacteria feeds on. Over time, this reduces the bacteria supply, getting rid of the egg smell. You might also consider a chlorinator, which can help to reduce bacteria levels as well.