Treatment Options

The options listed on this page have been collected from various web sites. The author makes no claim regarding their viability or safety.

Chlorine or hydrogen peroxide can be used flush the hot water heater to eliminate the bacteria, but the odor usually returns.

In 2001, the City of McCleary started using Aqua Mag to remove the chemicals which cause the odor: "McCleary seeks solution to water odor problem".

In 2002, the City of McCleary conducted a Pilot Study, which was > 80% effective in removing iron, and > 95% effective in removing manganese. The plant would have cost $495,000 ... then.

Some of the "solutions" below (and on my survey) are only used by the purveyor or provider, not the consumer.

• Periodic hydrogen peroxide flush (See "Articles & White Papers" and "One Resident's Successful Technique" below)
• Periodic chlorine (bleach) flush
• Particle water filter installed at water heater
• Replace magnesium rod with a zinc/aluminum rod in hot water heater (Caution: Some are concerned that aluminum contributes to Alzheimer's disease. The EPA has recommended further studies on the possible relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease.)
• Remove the magnesium rod in hot water heater. Note: Removing the rod will void the water heater warranty. (Refer to "Reference" below for caution.)
• Phosphate compounds
• Aeration (pressure aerator) followed by filtration – Aeration injects and circulates air through water to enhance oxidation. This treatment is effective for moderate levels of iron, especially in warmer climates and higher pH waters when combined with filtration.
• Chemical oxidation followed by filtration
• Oxidizing (Catalyst) Filter
• Ion exchange water softeners – Water softeners exchange sodium or potassium ions for those of the hardness minerals including ionic iron and ionic manganese. Softening is generally considered effective for lower levels of iron and manganese.
• Water Softening with Anion Exchange Resin – A water softener with special anion exchange resin that absorbs tannins is useful for low tannin concentrations.
• Superchlorination - Dechlorination filtration – Chemical feed systems add chlorine to water to oxidize organics, ionic iron, ionic manganese and tannins. Chlorination is used for high concentrations of iron, manganese and tannins or when organics or iron/manganese bacteria are present. A carbon or calcite filter is then used to reduce the chlorine and capture the precipitated iron and manganese.
• Manganese greensand
• Iron Reduction – Filter Iron/manganese reduction filters can be used when softening is not desired, and when the combined iron plus manganese levels are less than 10mg/L and water pH is above 6.8. These filters absorb ionic iron and/or ionic manganese, which are then oxidized by the filter media.
• Sequestration by Chemical Feed – This process may be used to treat very high concentrations of iron. Food-grade polyphosphate compounds are added to water, which react chemically to sequester iron and prevent it from precipitating out of solution until it is drained off as waste water. (You'll need to talk to a chemist or trained water system employee to learn how sequestering agents work.)
• Calcite Media Filters – Filters using calcite adjust the pH in water to make it less corrosive and to cause iron and manganese precipitation, which is then filtered from the water. These filters are useful when the staining is caused by corroding water pipes. This media is used for moderate pH of 5.5 or less and copper staining problems.
• Chemical Feed Coaters and Neutrilizers – Coaters are fed into water to protect pipes and soda ash is fed into water to neutrilize severe pH problems.

Articles & White Papers

• "How to Treat your Water Odor Problem" by Vern Merryman, McCleary Wastewater and Water System Operator
• "Stinky Well Solutions" from the September - October, 1999, issue of HANDY magazine
• "Selecting a Household Water Treatment System" by the National Sanitation Foundation
• Odor Control in Water Heaters by Quantumlynx.com
• "He Treats Well Water with Hydrogen Peroxide" by www.farmshow.com/

One Resident's Successful Technique

Filter

Culligan Whole House Sediment Water Filter Model HF-360 (with a charcoal filter replacement cartridge) installed where water enters the hot water heater.

Periodically remove the filter cartridge to stop odor.

Flush

Pour in one cup of hydrogen peroxide. Turn on all faucets in the house for 2 minutes. Turn off all faucets. Let peroxide sit in system and pipes overnight. Turn on all faucets in the house for 2 or 3 minutes. Put in a new filter cartridge.

Reference

Remove or replace rod in hot water heater – – Replacing the rod in the hot water heater can be one method to reduce Hydrogen Sulfide in the water. Some water heaters have a magnesium rod as a corrosion control measure (water will attack the rod instead of the heaters lining). This rod however can react with sulfates naturally occuring in the water and produce hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor). We typically only recommend removal of the rod if disinfection of the water tank does not work (usually H2S production is a result of bacterial action in the hot water tank) as removing the rod may void the water heaters warranty. [3]

[3] Jeff Nelson, REHS/RS, Microbiologist, Grays Harbor County Environmental Health Division, 3/8/2006 email to author.