What is Causing My Smelly Water?

And How Do I Fix It?

Rotten egg smell in your water is usually one of two culprits: Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) or Sulfates.

H2S is a mineral released from the earth that finds its way into groundwater.

Sulfates are sulfur-containing compounds found in nature that bacteria can turn into H2S.

H2S in gas form is dangerous, however, when dissolved in water it is less so, but it still poses health risks. 

So how does H2S get in your water? It is often there naturally. If you are on city water, an attempt has been made to reduce it to “not unhealthy” levels. 

If you are on well water, it’s especially common in wells located near shale, sandstone, coal, peat, or oil, like those in many areas of the State.

Occasionally, a rotten-egg smell in your water could also be associated with sewage contamination or bacteria in your water heater.

The most important thing to note is that it is ALWAYS worthwhile to get your water tested if you have smelly water. 

Protect appliances, fixtures, and clothing from iron staining, and eliminate the rotten-egg odor caused by hydrogen sulfide gas in your water today!

Danger H2S sign
iron sulfur water systems
Smelly Water Solutions

So how do you fix water that smells like sulfur?

 

The first step is to figure out what is actually causing the smell. That usually involves a water test.

Next, once you know the cause, then you can move on to removing the contaminants, which, with H2S, isn’t usually as simple as adding in a filter.

This is where it becomes useful to have professional help. For Oregon homeowners, Shiloh Water Systems will do Free water testing to determine the source of the smell.

With those test results, we can tell you exactly what you’ll need to fix the problem. We have plenty of experience with the local water, and we know what works.

After that, there’s no obligation to purchase equipment from us. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your family. 

Fill Out The Contact Form or Call 503-436-6996 Now!

Local Oregon Reviews

JOHN G.
1 week ago
Most satisfied with the attention to detail and the level of competence shown by Ridge, from Shiloh Water Systems, in completing the service and repair of my water filtration system today.
Response from the owner:Hi there John, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review! We take great pride in providing top-notch service and we're thrilled to hear that Ridge from Shiloh Water Systems delivered just that. Cheers to clean water and competent technicians! Wishing you all the best. - The Shiloh Water Systems Team
Neal W.
1 week ago
Yearly service visit or water softener and iron/sulfur filter was completed competently and efficiently.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review, Neal! We're happy to hear that your yearly service visit for your water softener and iron/sulfur filter was completed competently and efficiently by Shiloh Water Systems, Inc. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to serving you again!
Troy D.
2 weeks ago
Nathan is always great. Informative, professional, helpful. Trust Shiloh for our water system.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your fantastic 5-star review, Troy! We're thrilled to hear that Nathan provided you with informative and professional service. At Shiloh Water Systems, Inc., we strive to be your trusted choice for all your water system needs. We appreciate your support!
Cherie T.
3 weeks ago
I had to have a water heater replaced and the gentleman that did it couldn’t figure out how to turn the water off even though I kept telling him I just had to turn the pump off since I’m on a well. Long story short he finally got the water heater in, but when the water got turned back on, there was no water coming into the house.He went out and was looking at the filtration system and started turning knobs and all kinds of stuff. I told him to stop and I called Shiloh as they’re the ones that installed the system. Rian came out and immediately discovered what the problem was and got the water working correctly. My system was 15 years old. It was full of sediment and frankly was not working or doing anything to filter the well water. We talked about it, and it was very clear that the system that I had was no longer working and not providing any filtration to the house. I agreed it was time to replace it. He came out today and completed the work quickly efficiently did an excellent job. Great work and was very informative on how everything worked. Thank you Rian for all your help and getting the filtration of my water back to working order.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your 5-star review, Cherie! We're thrilled to hear that Rian was able to get your water filtration system back in working order after the water heater replacement. It sounds like he provided excellent service, and we appreciate you sharing your experience with Shiloh Water Systems, Inc. If you need any more assistance or have questions in the future, just let us know. Enjoy your freshly filtered water!