hydrogen sulfite smell in drinking water tank

[gonesail]

a good water filter at the faucet works for me. once the PUR filter was installed the weird taste went totally away.

[ttex]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Chlorine as in pool chlorine tablets or granules is I believe Calcium hypochlorate, and bleach as in liquid chlorine is Sodium Hypochlorate.
I believe for our purposes they are indistinguishable, but the liquid form is more available and common.

The only difference I’ve seen in pool usage is over time the Calcium hypochlorate can form Calcium crystals on the plaster surface of pools and this is rough on your feet, the liquid Sodium Hypochlorate doesn’t seem to do this.

Pool tablet chlorine is Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione. There are two common types of powder chlorine sold in most department stores. Calcium hypochlorite is the most common type of powder chlorine and sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione is the second most common. And we have the liquid chlorine which is of course the sodium hypochlorite.

I own a swimming pool cleaning company.

[avotrejoyeux]

Do you already have a charcoal / activated carbon block filter in the fresh water line? If so, did you change it? If not, the filter alone may be the source of the odor. It is a good practice to remove these filters before you leave the boat for a period of time, rinse the filter, leave it out of the cannister and let it dry. The filter may then be re-inserted in the filter cannister and may be fine.
The filter has a much higher concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the water flowing into it because it is retaining it. The consequence is the odor due to the high concentration and perhaps the bacteria that also grows on the trapped debris. Removing the filter, rinsing and storing dry until you return to the boat extends the life of the filter and reduces the odor. Spectra water maker manuals teach this practice as well for the same filters used for the back flush system.

[wrwakefield]

If sanitizing and flushing the potable water system doesn't stop the hydrogen sulfide odors from redeveloping, try some Neutra Sul HP41N Professional Grade Oxidizer [shelf stable 7% hydrogen peroxide.]

Cheap and effective.

That is what it is made for, and you don't have to flush it from the system...

In case this is helpful.

Cheers! Bill

PS: This is from our list of cleaners, sanitizers, corrosion preventatives, etc. that work best for us. [That page is what we use when we reorder products for ourselves...]

[Scaramanga F25]

7 percent H2 02 will also bleach stains I'm wood.

[Amapola]

Corroded hot water anode will cause that smell.

[thereefgeek]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FUB52BkJddY&t=316s

[Mainstreet]

I’ve had the same issue on occasion and found a method for eliminating the scent that seems flawless. On my Morgan 462 I had two tanks for potable water. Both acquired the “sulphur” scent at one time or another. Each was roughly 100 gallons in volume. I simply added a liter of hydrogen peroxide to each tank and the scent was gone. The hydrogen peroxide does not need to be rinsed and it’s very inexpensive at most pharmacies. The result, very pleasant tasting fresh water

[ejjawhite]

Originally Posted by Bill O

They are discussing the magnesium anode that are found in many hot water tanks.


Bill O.

I replaced my hot water tank drain valve with the recommended magnesium anode and the smell quickly returned in my 37 year old hot water system after proper flushing etc. Cold water no problem. I’m replacing the hot water tank and installing the magnesium anode this year, (sailing in New England)... it better work....

[Nicholson58]

We find stagnant sea water in our strainers, etc will stink sulphur. I assume dead and decomposing algae and stuff. If it’s is in your fresh water tanks you will need to kill it including any residue in the pipe and hoses. Perhaps a killer solution circulated like preserving a watermaker might do it. Chlorine or watermaker stuff. Talk to a good watermaker guy and see if you get a great idea.

[thruska]

https://www.livestrong.com/article/158629-health-effects-of-sulfur-in-water/

Sulfer content is not unhealthy unless in unusually high concentrations. Its yhe smell of rotten eggs thats the turn off .
In households the heater anode is often the culprit.
Imho i would prefer sulfur over clorine and flouride.
As previously comments recommended , camco carbon filters do work .