The Best Way to Treat Well Water With High Black Sulphur Content

Hydrogen sulfide gas is often caused by bacteria that create the gas and can cause a black film on the surface of the water, giving it the name "black sulfur." Though the bacteria are harmless, hydrogen sulfide can be dangerous at high levels and should be treated out of the water. The best treatment technique depends on the concentration of sulfide gas.

Well Water and Black Sulphur

• Well water most commonly comes from underground aquifers that are basically lakes or rivers that run underground. A well is dug deep enough that it connects to these aquifers and the water is pumped up to the house, often outside of incorporated towns and cities. Unlike cities and municipality water supplies, individual wells do not have water treatment or purification and that must be purchased by the home owner in accordance with the water's contaminants.

  When the water flows underground, it can come into contact with several mineral deposits and bacterial colonies. This can cause the water to become infused with these. Black sulfur is bacteria that can create a black film on the water and generates hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs and can create black stains on clothing. The bacteria do not pose a health risk, but it can make the water distasteful, smelly and, in some cases, undrinkable.

Best Treatment Methods

• If you only have a small amount of sulfide gas in the water, then you can treat it using an aeration technique. An aerator is installed between the well and the house. As the water comes in, it is routed to a cascade or sprayer assembly that exposes the water to air and reduces water pressure. This will remove the hydrogen sulfide smell from the home, but it will still be at the aerator site.

  If you have high concentrations of sulfur bacteria, then your best treatment method will be chlorine bleach treatment, which is also known as shocking the well. The chlorine bleach will remove the rotten egg smell and kill the sulfur bacteria. The bacteria can come back if not completely removed by the bleach, so repeat treatments will be necessary. You introduce water through the well system that has high concentrations of chlorine. Everything from the water-bearing system, through the well bore and the distribution system are exposed to the chlorinated water. It is imperative that no one drinks the water while the well is being shocked and the water should be allowed to run into the drain until at least until the smell of chlorine cannot be smelled.