Well smell

bqz · #1 10/03/08, 01:53 PM

My water has a hint of sulfur or some type of oil fuel smell, can't make it out,hasn't rained here for about 3weeks and water levels are down.
Any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of the smell until rain comes again?
I do not have a water softener,our water is usually very clear and fresh never had this problem before.

mamita · #2 10/03/08, 02:38 PM

you might want to flush with bleach.

we have had some indications periodically of odd water. for that reason, we drink bottled water and always have. still....we flush with bleach on occasion anyway.

hintonlady · #3 10/03/08, 02:47 PM

I don't mean to make light of your situation but I have a similar experience.

In the winter my DH's Grandpa (lives next door) likes to park large round bales of hay around the outside spicket to keep it from freezing. That is right on top of the ole well.

For several weeks every winter I think I'm smelling italian food when I shower and wonder if I have bad B.O. then it dawns on me.......the rain seeps through the bales and scents our water with wild garlic from the hay fields.

cfabe · #4 10/03/08, 04:34 PM

bqz - sulpher smell in well water is pretty common, you could try shocking the well and plumbing to see if it helps. BUT you also mentioned fuel oil, check for this by drawing a glass or pot of water, let it sit and see if you get the shimmery film on the surface like you'd see in an oil stained parking lot. It's possible you could have some sort of oil contamniation.

hintonlady - your well should be sealed off from surface water, if you are smelling garlic due to rain washing through hay think what else could be washing off the fields into your well. I would want to fix that probably.

Dodgegal79 · #5 10/03/08, 05:09 PM

Mine had the smell too a few weeks ago. I opened in up and there was a dead mouse in there, better check it out.

bqz · #6 10/03/08, 05:55 PM

Quote:

you might want to flush with bleach

Thought about that but wasn't real sure how to go about it.
Was also thinking about dropping a couple chlorine tablets down and see what that does for it but not sure how it would work out?
Anybody ever tried chlorine tablets?

plowjockey · #7 10/05/08, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bqz

Thought about that but wasn't real sure how to go about it.
Was also thinking about dropping a couple chlorine tablets down and see what that does for it but not sure how it would work out?
Anybody ever tried chlorine tablets?

It's important to do the job right, or you may get a lingering chlorine smell.

The are formulas online to determine how much WATER DILUTED household chlorine bleach to use, depending on well pipe diameter, well depth and the water depth in the well pipe. Then there are procedures for running the water in to the home water piper and how long to leave is sit, before flushing.

You only want to use as much chlorine to kill the nasties.

Marty

plowjockey · #8 10/05/08, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bqz

My water has a hint of sulfur or some type of oil fuel smell, can't make it out,hasn't rained here for about 3weeks and water levels are down.
Any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of the smell until rain comes again?
I do not have a water softener,our water is usually very clear and fresh never had this problem before.

If it smells that bad, maybe the safe thing is to have it tested. Some county health dept. can test for free or cheap.

Something to think about, especially, since you have not experienced it before.

Marty

Dodgegal79 · #9 10/05/08, 06:56 PM

Also make sure there are isen't any drilling going on around your place. I know here in my town we are currently fighting Coal bed methane drilling and one thing that can happen is when they are drilling they can crack a coal seam and the gas will enter the underground water. There are peoples wells in Alberta Canad that when they run the water they can put a match to it and it will burn. Best to get it tested.