Everything You Need to Know About Sulfur Water
When you turn on your shower, are you greeted with crisp, odor-free water or does it smell like your showerhead is spouting out rotten eggs?
A simple explanation for this unpleasant smell could be that sulfur is present in your water supply. Though you may already be concerned over whether or not that ill-odored water is safe to shower in, you might also ask yourself “Is sulfur water safe to drink?” Well, it can be.
To help you understand what sulfur water is and how it gets into your water supply, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions we received at Aquarius Water Conditioning.
What Is In Sulfur Water?
Sulfur water is caused by hydrogen sulfur gas, which can enter your water supply in one of three ways:
- Soil and rocks that contain sulfur decay, and the matter seeps into your water supply.
- Sulfate-reducing bacteria converts compounds into hydrogen sulfide gas.
- Your water heater produces the gas.
Sulfur Water Benefits
Many foods you eat each day contain small amounts of sulfur that can actually be beneficial to your everyday nutrition, such as improving the quality of your hair, skin, and connective tissue.
But is sulfur water bad for you?
While you likely won’t have too high of sulfur levels in the types of foods you’re eating, you could have higher sulfur levels in your home water supply. Most people can’t make it past the smell to actually drink the water, but if you do, you could experience diarrhea and eventual dehydration. Plus, sulfur water can wreak havoc on your plumbing system.
So while your body “might” be able to adapt to the water after a while, we doubt you want to deal with those nasty side-effects or have to pay for costly plumbing issues in the future.
FAQs About Sulfur Water
As the leading home water conditioning experts in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we receive a lot of questions concerning sulfur water. To help you find the right information, so you can make the best, informed decisions for your family’s health, here are some of our top frequently asked questions about sulfur water:
Q: Is Sulfur Water Hard or Soft?
A: Sulfur water doesn’t necessarily mean hard water. You can still receive soft water and experience a high level of hydrogen sulfur gas.
Q: Is Sulfur Water Bad for Dogs?
A: As with humans, too much sulfur in your water supply can cause diarrhea, dehydration, and other side-effects for your family’s dog. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, for example, if an animal ingests a high enough level of sulfur, it could become toxic to their health.
Q: Can You Cook with Sulfur Water?
A: Some homeowners find it difficult to cook with the overwhelming smell of rotting eggs. However, when water is boiled, it can remove the smell, so the sulfur won’t affect your food’s flavor.
Q: How Do You Get Rid of Sulfur in Drinking Water?
A: Since you can’t exactly change the kind of water your home receives, the best option for sulfur water treatment is by installing a water filtration system. At Aquarius, we perform free water analyses, which allows us to carefully select and install a water filtration system that’s best suited for your home’s needs.
Don’t Take Your Drinking Water for Granted
For the best drinking water in Minnesota and Wisconsin, give us a call at 888-741-9025 or request a free online quote today! We’ll help you find the best Kinetico Drinking Water Systems to fit your home and help you finally say goodbye to the unforgivable smell of sulfur.