{"id":17223,"date":"2026-09-30T17:18:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T21:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/?p=17223"},"modified":"2026-10-16T12:46:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T16:46:21","slug":"rotten-egg-smell-well-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/rotten-egg-smell-well-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Does your water smell like rotten eggs? Here&#8217;s where it comes from and how to fix it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rotten egg smell comes from hydrogen sulphide (H\u2082S), a gas dissolved in the water. You can smell it from 0.05 mg\/L, and at these levels Health Canada treats it as an odour and taste problem, not a health problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To find the right solution, one question matters more than any other: do you smell it in the hot water only, or in the cold water too?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where does the sulphur smell come from? The two-tap test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Run the cold water at a tap and smell it. Do the same with the hot water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hot water only<\/strong>: the problem almost always comes from the water heater.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cold and hot water<\/strong>: the sulphide is in the well water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If the smell is only in the hot water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1098\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chauffe-eau-electrique-sous-sol.jpg\" alt=\"Electric water heater in the basement of a house\" class=\"wp-image-16916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chauffe-eau-electrique-sous-sol.jpg 1098w, https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chauffe-eau-electrique-sous-sol-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chauffe-eau-electrique-sous-sol-1024x573.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chauffe-eau-electrique-sous-sol-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chauffe-eau-electrique-sous-sol-600x336.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1098px) 100vw, 1098px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most cases, it is the water heater&#8217;s anode, the metal rod that protects the tank from corrosion, that reacts with your water and creates the smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our solution: upgrade the anode.<\/strong> We replace the original anode with an improved anode, made in Quebec, that we keep in stock. It keeps protecting your water heater and stops the smell at the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Call us before you buy a part online: we will tell you in a few minutes whether it fits your water heater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If the smell is in the cold water too<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sulphide is in the groundwater. It comes from decaying organic matter and from bacteria that live where there is no oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sulphur rarely comes alone. The iron, manganese, pH and hardness of your water completely change the system you need. That is why two tests come first: <strong>a complete physico-chemical analysis and a sulphide test<\/strong>. They let us install the right system the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/boutique\/physico-chemical-water-test-kit-with-certificate\/\">physico-chemical test kit<\/a> measures iron, manganese, hardness, pH and more, with a laboratory certificate. <strong>Its cost is credited 100% when you buy a complete system.<\/strong> Sulphur is not included: the <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/boutique\/sulfide-water-test-kit\/\">sulphide test kit<\/a> is ordered separately. To check for bacteria as well, the <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/boutique\/duo-water-test-kit-potability-physico-chemical-analysis\/\">duo kit<\/a> combines the physico-chemical analysis and the potability test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Possible solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Solution<\/th><th>For which water<\/th><th>Good to know<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Catalytic activated carbon filter<\/td><td>Low sulphur<\/td><td>Simple to install and maintain, and effective.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Oxidizing media<\/td><td>Moderate sulphur, iron, manganese<\/td><td>Simple to install and maintain, and effective. It handles more sulphur than carbon, and it can also treat iron and manganese.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Complete peroxide injection system<\/td><td>High sulphur<\/td><td>The setup we recommend for heavily loaded water. It works very well at high pH.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Continuous chlorination<\/td><td>Sulphur, iron and bacteria<\/td><td>A single system can deal with sulphur, iron and bacteria at the same time. Ask us whether your water is suited to it.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When sulphur comes with iron or manganese, the order of the equipment matters as much as the equipment itself. A system chosen without a water test, or installed in the wrong order, can let the smell come back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What not to do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Boiling the water<\/strong>: it does not remove sulphide, and the smell can even get worse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Counting on a water softener<\/strong>: it removes hardness, not sulphide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Buying a system before testing<\/strong>: equipment chosen blindly, online or in a store, wears out quickly or only solves part of the problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the concentrations found in well water, no. According to Health Canada, the smell becomes unbearable long before there is a health risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, water that smells of sulphur can also contain bacteria. A <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/boutique\/water-potability-test-kit\/\">potability test<\/a> will tell you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/systeme-traitement-eau-pure-h2o-480.jpg\" alt=\"Water treatment system installed by Pure H2O: backwash filter, UV sterilizer and pressure tank\" class=\"wp-image-16919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/systeme-traitement-eau-pure-h2o-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/systeme-traitement-eau-pure-h2o-480-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A water treatment system installed by Pure H2O.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell us whether the smell is in the hot water, the cold water or both. Then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Do you have a recent water test?<\/strong> Send it to us: we will tell you which system suits your water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No recent test?<\/strong> Contact us to order both tests, or order the <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/boutique\/physico-chemical-water-test-kit-with-certificate\/\">physico-chemical kit<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/boutique\/sulfide-water-test-kit\/\">sulphide kit<\/a> online.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Would you rather we take care of it?<\/strong> Book an appointment: we prepare your quote and do the installation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phone: 1-888-840-0558 \u00b7 Email: info@ecopureh2o.com \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/contact\/\">Contact us<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/sante.canada.ca\/publications\/healthy-living-vie-saine\/water-sulphide-sulfure-eau\/alt\/water-sulphide-sulfure-eau-fra.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Health Canada, Sulphide in drinking water (in French)<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/publications\/healthy-living\/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-sulphide-as-h2s.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Health Canada, Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Sulphide (as H2S)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does your well water smell like rotten eggs? Here&#8217;s how to tell whether it comes from the well or the water heater, and which treatment to choose based on your water test.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":16909,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-categorise"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17223"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17224,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17223\/revisions\/17224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureh2o.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}