Water Problems
Rotten egg
or sulfur smell
– The most common cause is bacteria, which breaks down sulfates found in
the water to sulfides. These combine with the hydrogen in the water to
form hydrogen sulfide gas, emitting the smell of rotten eggs. It is
normally not dangerous at low levels.
If the
odor is not present in water outside the house (ie. hose bib), check to
see if you have iron galvanized piping. These may be deteriorating.
Hydrogen
also often accumulates around the anode in the water heater. The
situation is worse if oxygen levels in the water are low. Well water or
seldom-used water can have depleted oxygen. The solution is to treat
water with chlorine. If one treatment doesn’t solve the problem, the
anode rod needs to be replaced. If the odor is present outside the house,
the problem may originate at the source. You may be able to install a
filter where the water enters your home.
Slimy black
buildup inside toilet tank -- This is an iron bacteria. A “shock” chlorination of the well will
relieve the problem temporarily.
Reduced
water flow – The
may occur if the screen of the well casing or the pump is clogged by
buildup of slime. “Shock” chlorination may help restore flow.
Milky water
– This is caused by dissolved oxygen and other gases released when water
is heated or depressurized. The gases are harmless and will dissipate
when the water is left standing for a few minutes.
Water turns
dirty during dry weather –This may occur due to the sloughing off of built up slime. “Shock”
chlorination will correct the problem.
Water turns
dirty during wet weather – This may be caused by a crack or improperly installed well casing.
Test for coliform bacteria. Boil water or drink bottled water until test
results show water is safe.
Black, brown
or red stains –
These are caused by manganese or iron contamination and are not a health
hazard. These stains can be removed by treatment.
Stained
fixtures – Reddish
stains are usually caused by iron in the water.
There
are a variety of different types of iron that can affect your water,
creating problems from slight discoloration to mild staining. The method
of treating “red” water problems will depend on the type of iron present.
A water softener, filtration device or a combination of treatments may be
recommended.
Blue–Green
Stains – These
stains are usually due to the presence of copper in the water supply.
Corroded copper plumbing is the most common source of this problem.
Treatment may be necessary to avoid damage to the water system.
Taste
– Copper also affects the taste of drinking water and can be removed with
a water softener system. However, you must establish that pipe corrosion
is not the source of the problem. The pH of the water must also be tested
to ensure it is at the appropriate level.
Rusty water
– The most common cause is bacteria which react to iron found naturally in
water. High iron levels are common in some areas. If untreated, bacteria
can damage the water heater anode as well as plumbing fixtures and
clothing.
This is
rarely caused by the water heater storage tank as they are usually glass
lined and water must come in contact with bare metal. Check for iron or
old galvanized pipes. The solution is to “shock” the water with chlorine.
