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Photograph of smelly dirty water running into a bathtub of a Poughkeepsie NY Home (C) Daniel Friedman How to Identify & Cure Odors in Drinking Water

Water odors & smells:

This article discusses how to identify, diagnose, and cure common odors that may be present in drinking water. We explain how to get rid of or treat stinks, smells, rotten egg odor, sulphur odors in water.

Also described here: How to diagnose the cause of rotten egg sulphur odors in drinking water. What are other common odors in drinking water and what causes them? Health risks associated with some water odors?

How to get rid of other odors in drinking water. Bacteria including iron-bacteria can produce diesel or fuel oil smells in the water, cucumber smells, and even sewage odors in the water supply.

We also discuss which of these odors may warn of unsanitary conditions.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

"Honey - the Water Smells Funny!" - what are the causes of odors in drinking water?

Although water as a pure compound, H2O, is colorless and odorless, contact with the earth's minerals and our distribution pipes may impart some flavor and odor characteristics.

The Threshold Odor Test Method

A subjective analysis called the Threshold Odor Test, number 2150b. in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th ed., can give us an idea of the strength of the odor as compared to controls of varying degree of odor concentration.

But how do you interpret what the underlying problem is when your water has a peculiar odor? Just below is a list of articles giving greater detail about the most-common sources of odors in water. At the end of this article you'll find a complete list of water smell & odor diagnosis and correctiion articles.

Cucumber Odors in Water

Diesel Fuel Odors in Water

Methane Odors in Water

Methane from natural sources, from coal mining activities, and possibly from other mining or oil drillling activities can explain the presence of significant, even dangerous levels of methane in well water supplies.

Sewage Odors in Water

In addition to possible sewage contamination of a well from a nearby failed septic system,

Sulphur Odors in Water

Some odors are a little more insidious and require a bit of background knowledge to deal with them effectively. If your source water runs through an area where naturally occurring sulfur is present, some sulfur may dissolve into the water. We provide a diagnostic procedure to track down the source of sulphur smells in water just below.

Some of this dissolved sulfur turns to the gas, hydrogen sulfide, and this can give the water a rotten egg type smelly odor.

Sulphur odors can also be caused by a failing hot water heater component, or by certain bacteria in the building plumbing system, conditions we also discuss below.

UV & Xenon Light Water Disinfection Equipment Odors

Question: petroleum smell in water after installing UV disinfection system

We installed a UV system in residential home. Water source is well water. The water now has a petroleum type odor - even after several days of running the water.

I did see 2 comments re : odor in the FAQ from Oct 2015 but there was no response as to possible cause. Those were from ships.
Can you advise? - Anonymous by private email, 2018/01/26

Reply: sources of petroleum smell in water do not include UV light itself

UV - ultraviolet light - disinfection would not itself be an odor source. It is simply a light bulb shining light on water to try to kill many species of bacteria that pass by.

If your well has a petroleum odor I suspect it's originating elsewhere - petroleum (heating oil, gasoline, motor oil) would not not be used in the operation nor installation of a UV light water treatment system.

A diagnostic step would be to collect a water sample upstream from the UV light system or right at the well. Have that tested for petroleum products/residues (as those are found in some well water sources).

Also see WATER STAINING CONTAMINANTS where you will see an explanation that iron-loving bacteria in the water supply are able to produce a fuel oil or diesel smell in water.

Note that a UV water disinfection system will not reduce the iron level in your water.

In contrast with U&V light disinfection, Xenon light disinfection has suffered from some ozone-odor complaints. But ozone would smell more like an "electrical" odor not petroleum.

See XENON LAMP OZONE OUTPUT?

Other Odors in Water

 

Diagnostic Questions About Odors in Water

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2021-02-07 - by (mod) -

John that's strange indeed. I've installed and used UV lights without any such odor issue related to the light. I would give a call to the manufacturer to ask if they have any advice - and please do tell me what you're told.

By the way, while we want all the bacteria "dead" if there is a too-high level of bacterial contamination or if the water flow is too fast thorugh a UV light, treatment will not be effective, nor will a light remove any other contaminants that might be in water such as chemicals or other odor sources.

On 2021-02-07 by John A

After installing a ultraviolet light on my RO filtration system (after the filter). Our well water stinks like burnt rubber. When I turn off the power to the UV light the stink if gone. I can't even use the UV light. What a waste for us. I do want all the bacteria dead, but the smell is really strong

On 2019-12-11 - by (mod) -

Conc

Let's start by taking a look at the number in the triangle logo found usually on the bottom of your water bottles. What numnber is that? That will tell us the type of plastic used. Some plastics can impart a taste or odor to water.

Next let's look at the data: where where the bottles made. Some suppliers may be using variable plastics that sometimes smell; I've certainly found that to be the case when buying and using polyethylene sheeting.

On 2019-12-04 by Concerned mother of almost 5 (I'm pregnant)

My husband bought new water bottles that I cleaned extensively with hot soapy water. We just got connected to the community well, because our well went dry. I notice after water sat over night in the reusable water bottle that there was a strong rubbery and lemon peel like smell and taste in the water.

When using a glass cup the smell and taste were more faint coming from our filtered refrigerator. And slightly more noticeable I'm water coming from a 3 gallon filtered y tank contacted to our system, and most pronounced from the water faucet itself. What causes rubber and lemon peel smell and taste in your water?

On 2019-06-09 by (mod) - local sewer systems was overloaded with calcium salts f

Thank you for an interesting question. I've been doing some research but still need to find an authoritative source for an answer. I'll post you or what I find.

On 2019-06-04 by Jim G

The local sewer systems was overloaded with calcium salts from our water softeners so they made us change to potassium. My hot water began to smell because of the potassium salt reacting with the sacrificial anode.I removed the anode by cutting the sacrificial rod off the plug. is there an anode material that I can use which will not smell with the potassium salt in my water softener?

On 2018-08-02 by (mod) - after installed a UVA water disinfection filter noticed a chemical smell

Richard

Thank you for an important comment and concern. If the iron content in your water is more than 0.3 mg/L when the water hits the UV light the system will be in trouble.

It sounds as if the UV cannot handle the level of bacteria, combined with high iron content in the water;

If water is high in anything that obscures the light (UV systems use a light not a filter) such as sediment will prevent the light from being effective. On the successful installations I've inspected or installed the UV light was always placed last in the series of water treatment, filters, softeners, etc. for just this reason.

Perhaps installing an iron treatment/removal system upstream from the UV light will solve the problem.

Viqua and other sources note that high iron content in water is a problem for UV treatment - excerpt:
The ideal water quality for UV disinfection is:

Turbidity < 1ntu (turbidity units)
suspended solids < 10mg/l
colour – none
total iron < 0.3 mg/l
manganese < 0.05 mg/l
hardness <7 gpg (120 ppm)

On 2018-08-01 by Richard Puckett

I installed a UVA water disinfection filter and within 48 hours I noticed a chemical smell -- perhaps the "petroleum" smell others have reported. I note that elsewhere on this page "... iron-loving bacteria in the water supply are able to produce a fuel oil or diesel smell in water."

My well water is very hard and is rich in iron-loving bacteria. I speculate that the UVA light is interacting with the iron bacteria and that they are in the presence of the UVA exuding whatever chemical yields that smell.

On 2018-07-11 by chester

I was told by a person owning a drilling company if a person smells sulfur the drill hit a coal bed...
if the water smells like onions its cyanide that the drill hit..

I was told this years after going to Mexico and the water smelled of onions and I got sick by using ice in my drinks..


On 2018-02-18 - by (mod) -

Comc.,

Probably not, if the water colour was from iron in your water supply, and provided your child didn't drink the bathwater, but I really don't know. After all we don't know what was in your water.

Most likely it's a iron contaminant, but of course it could be something else.

If you can obtain a sample of your water supply particularly when it is colored but even if it is not, and take that to a water testing lab, you could have them screen for common harmful material such as bacteria and or contaminants found in the water supply in your area, as well as iron.

On 2018-02-18 y Concerned...

Was running a bath for my 3 year old while she was in the tub and suddenly the water started running bright yellow and had an odor... Is she going to be affectd any way?

On 2017-11-24 - by (mod) -

Ed

Before adding a water treatment system or even considering changing your well, it seems to me it would be a good move to have your well water tested to let you know what the conditions are.

Question: My client complains of a "certain smell" in her water but she can't identify it

I've got a client whose weekend home I inspected in 2005. They now have two young children and she's complaining about a "certain" smell in her water. She can't identify the smell.

Rotten eggs? No. Oily? No. Chemical? No.

But she smells it on herself and on her children after a bath or shower and says her skin fees dry after a shower.

Another twist. They've got two wells. They switch from one to the other when one gets dry. This home is in Ancramdale, NY 12503, Columbia County. Pretty rural. Lots of farming and sheep farming, I think.

The client wants me to test both wells. But I'm not confident that any generic water tests will do the job in this case.

I've looked at both of your articles:

WATER POLLUTANT SOURCES

and WATER SMELLS or ODORS, OTHER

I've looked at these two pages and I've got Smith Lab's price sheet in front of me and I think I'm in over my head.

I mean, this could cost them over $1,000 in lab fees alone for the two wells.

Any suggestions? - Arlene Puentes, ASHI

(Mar 16, 2015) Zyiah said:

My water smells funny

Reply: Starting Point for Chasing Down Unidentified Odors in the Water Supply

Who smells the odors?

Watch out: methane odors in a building water supply can be explosive (METHANE GAS SOURCES)

Scott Bradley, Aquacheck Water Testing Laboratory contributed content to this article.

On 2012-12-13 by Paul again

Problem: -- Bacteria - Rotten Egg Smell in your Hot Side of your Water Heater
When the bacterium enters a domestic water system it can find an ideal host environment of warm water temperatures (105-115°F), stagnant water areas (storage tanks and dead-end piping legs) and ample food sources (sediment, scale, deposits and biofilm). Under these conditions can rapidly colonize, forming higher concentrations that can pose the public health threat of Disease.

There are many methods of controlling colonization of bacteria. However, a widely accepted and preferred method is to maintain the hot water system storage temperature continually at or above 140°F. Unfortunately, the elevated temperature necessary to minimize the growth of and kill bacteria has the potential to cause serious thermal shock and scalding injuries . Solution: - Watts Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit the mixed hot water to a desirable, selectable temperature allowing for the storage of domestic hot water at the higher temperatures necessary to reduce the risk of growth in the system.

On 2012-12-13 by Paul

install a mixing valve on the output of your water heater, and turn up the water heater to 140 F and adjust the mixing valve output temp to 120 F, give it 1 week to kill the bugs in the water heater, and then you should be Done with the problem

On 2012-10-20 by Mike G

There are lead mines in this town, and a whole heard of Scotish Highlanders cows walking through the center where there is a major brook they walk through. a whole host of possible problems, and when its not raining the water runs slowly throughy the area causing a slow moving swamp enviroment

On 2012-08-24 by Heather Marsh

I smell this rotten egg smell in the bathroom downstairs when someone is taking a shower in the bathroom above. We have a septic system. What type of contractor do I contact to remedy this?

On 2012-08-24 by LABANI KUMAR ROHIDAS

It helped me a lot 2 prepare the note

On 2012-08-11 by Anonymous

Check for sulphur, bacteria, and consider one of the treatment methods discussed here

On 2012-08-11 by cheryl

what do I do if smell A rotten fishey smell in my tap water?

On 2012-07-01 by Heather

after installing a sink in the upstairs of the house with metal pipes, the water gives off an odd smell= possibly like old plastic and is stronger if the water hasnt been run for a day. All the other sinks/baths in the house do not have this problem. Im lost as to what it could be or how to go about fixing it


...

Continue reading at WATER ODOR DIAGNOSIS - SULPHUR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see WATER ODOR FAQs - questions & answers about smells in water that were posted originally at this page.

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WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ODOR DIAGNOSIS & CURE

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