Water Treatment NOTES Cornell Cooperative Extension, College of Human Ecology Hydrogen Sulfide in Household Drinking Water

Water containing hydrogen sulfide, commonly called sulfur water, has a distinctive "rotten egg " or swampy odor. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas formed by the decay of organic matter such as plant material. It is typically found in groundwater containing low levels of dis-solved oxygen and a pH less than 6.0. If the pH range of the water is higher (7.0-12.0), the water may con-tain other forms of sulfur (sulfide or bisulfide). Sulfur problems occur less frequently in surface waters be-cause flowing water is aerated naturally so that the hydrogen sulfide reacts with oxygen and escapes as a gas or settles as a solid. Sulfur bacteria are also found in many drinking wa-ter wells and household distribution systems. These harmless bacteria use natural sulfur compounds in wa