How can I get the sulpher smell out of my well water in Alaska?

Question

sulpher smell and taste in well water

Answer 1

Hydrogen-sulfide is primarily responsible for the sulfur smell in wells. It is produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria living in the well (and possibly in your hot water heater). A couple descriptions of sulfur-related problems was at links #1 & #2 below.

For well water, the consensus is that it needs to be chlorinated or oxygenated.

Chlorination kills the bacteria. One example of a chlorination system for your well can be found in link #3 below.

Oxygenation works outside the well by reacting with the hydrogen-sulfide to reduce it to water and elemental sulfur. Examples of a couple residential systems and a commercial system can be found in links #4, #5, and #6 below; respectively.

Good luck. Common consensus is that this is tricky stuff.

P.S. As webster_J pointed out, hydrogen sulfide can also result from naturally-occurring mineral deposits in the earth where the well is drilled (or being drilled). So his suggestion of drilling deeper or drilling elsewhere may eliminate the problem as well.

Answer 2

You might have to go deeper for a different vain. Check with the neighbors, see where they're at with there wells. Your going to have to do the same.
Don't go for this reverse osmosis system unless you have a lot of money, then a lot to keep it running and it might not work. They're nice but expensive, for the very rich.

Answer 3

First off...FILTERS DO NOT REMOVE SULFUR!!!. Clorination of well is the cheapest. drilling well deeper is expensive but also works. I have no clue of the geology of alaska, but in Wisconsin we clorinate heavily. The first time you have this done call a well driller, and have him show you how to do it. Because you most likely have to do it again.

Answer 4

Install a reverse osmosis system in your fresh water supply pipe.

Answer 5

we had a sulphur smell on my sisters well the only way we got rid of it was to go deeper . we had the guy go 600 feet deeper and that cured the problem.