Sulfur falls into a category of contaminants that, like chlorine, interacts with other organic matter in tap water. This interaction has a very noticeable effect on your drinking water, and it can also damage your home’s plumbing system. Today we’re going to talk about where sulfur comes from, the effects it has on your water and what you can do to remove sulfur from the water in your Carolina home!
Where does sulfur come from and how does it interact with tap water?
Sulfur is a chemical element that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. It’s mostly problematic for homes with well water, because sulfur is found in high concentrations in the ground where many private wells are dug.
On its own, sulfur does not have much of an effect on your tap water. But if your water contains any sulfur-reducing bacteria, the sulfur in your water will interact with that bacteria and produce a gas called hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This gas is responsible for the negative effects that sulfur has on your tap water, which we’ll discuss below.
Iron bacteria and manganese bacteria are both forms of sulfur-reducing bacteria that are often found in wells, because they tend to grow in wet and oxygen-deficient environments. That’s one of the reasons why hydrogen sulfide is such a common problem for well water. H2S is also produced naturally when organic matter in well water starts to decay.
What are the effects of having tap water that’s high in sulfur?
There are no known health effects of tap water that’s high in sulfur or hydrogen sulfide. However, H2S gives off an extremely strong “rotten egg” smell that is noticeable even at low concentrations. This odor can make it very difficult to drink your water and is an embarrassing problem when you have guests. The smell can even linger on your body after you shower and on your clothes after they go through the wash. In fact, one of the most common complaints we hear from homeowners with private wells is that their water smells like rotten eggs.
Another problem with hydrogen sulfide is that it is corrosive. As a result, the gas can damage your pipes and plumbing fixtures and is known to produce black stains on silverware.
How can you remove sulfur from your home’s tap water?
The most effective way to remove sulfur and hydrogen sulfide from your water is to install an oxidizing filter in your home. This is the best option when sulfur levels are medium to high. An activated carbon filter is also effective at removing sulfur and hydrogen sulfide from water, but only when they show up at lower levels. Contact North Carolina Water Consultants to have your water tested for sulfur so that we can recommend the right type of system for your home.
If you have any questions about sulfur in your water, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in North and South Carolina. We provide service all over the Carolinas, including towns like Kannapolis, Cornelius and Huntersville, NC.