My well has a terrible rotten egg (sulfur) smell. What do I do?

These smells are typically caused by sulfur bacteria or sulfate-reducing bacteria. While not harmful, this can be a very unpleasant condition. We recommend to first disinfect the well (PDF) and the water system thoroughly.


Be careful to use a strong enough solution and to make sure the chlorine water gets into every portion of the water pipe system. After flushing out the chlorine, if the smell returns, you may want to apply to our office for a sulfur bacteria sample.

Show All Answers

1. Do I need to get a permit to drill a well or repair my existing well?
2. What inspections from the Health Department are required for my well?
3. What do I need to do to maintain my well?
4. When does a well need to be abandoned and why?
5. How can I test the quality of my private drinking water supply?
6. What is a bacteria test and what does it tell me?
7. What do I do if bacteria are found in my well?
8. What happens if the bacteria return after chlorination?
9. How often do I need to disinfect (chlorinate) my well?
10. How often should I have my well tested?
11. My well has a terrible rotten egg (sulfur) smell. What do I do?
12. I am having problems with the quality of my water (cloudy, red, black, or brown colored, green staining, etc). Where can I find help?
13. Do I need to get my water tested for pesticides or petroleum products (VOC)?