Signs & Symptoms of Sulfur in Drinking Water

Sulfur is a chemical element that can seep into water systems, particularly if pipes are old or a well is used. Sulfur bacteria thrive in hot-water plumbing and are present in many private water supplies. The bacteria feed on natural compounds of sulfur present in water to produce a gas called hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide in drinking water are easily detectable. Signs include a strong odor, strange taste and tarnished silverware or fixtures.

Odor and Taste

• Sulfur-based compounds have a distinctive smell, like that of rotten eggs. Even when small amounts are present in drinking water, the smell is easily detectable. It may also affect the taste of your water, causing it to taste vaguely like the rotten-egg smell. In some cases the odor may only be noticeable when the water is first turned on or only when the hot water is run. Heat forces the gas into the air, making it more noticeable.

Tarnished Silverware and Fixtures

• Hydrogen sulfide in water systems can tarnish your silverware and copper and may stair your laundry. You may also notice yellow or black stains on bathroom and kitchen water fixtures.

Beverages and Food

• Coffee and tea made with water containing hydrogen sulfide may appear discolored. Sulfur in your water can also change the appearance and taste of cooked foods, making them taste slightly of sulfur.

Nausea and Illness

• You can smell hydrogen sulfide even when it is present at very low levels, so it is extremely unlikely that a concentration of the gas high enough to harm you would be present in your drinking water. The smell would be unbearable. However, if you were to consume water with very high levels of hydrogen sulfide, nausea and illness could result.