Borehole Water Has Strong Smell or Discolouration

Strong odours or discoloured borehole water usually indicate dissolved minerals or bacteria reacting once the water reaches air or storage.

What you’ll usually notice

You may notice: – a rotten egg smell – metallic or unpleasant taste – water appearing clear but turning brown after standing

What’s normally behind it

This usually happens when groundwater contains hydrogen sulphide gas, iron bacteria, or high levels of dissolved minerals.

Why quick fixes don’t stick

Small carbon filters are often installed to mask the smell, but they quickly become overwhelmed if the underlying chemistry is not treated properly.

How this is normally handled

Water Usage Monitoring & Metering

This service diagnoses the real cause and fixes the system properly, not just the symptom.

What actually fixes it

This problem is normally handled by testing the water chemistry and designing a treatment sequence such as aeration, oxidation, and filtration.

What you can check yourself

You can check a few things yourself:
– see whether the smell occurs on hot water only
– check whether the smell appears on both hot and cold water

When to call someone in

If the smell makes the water unpleasant to use or affects bathing and cooking, the water chemistry should be properly tested and treated.

Why does my borehole water look dirty or sandy?

Dirty or sandy borehole water usually indicates poor borehole development, pump placement issues, or the need for proper sediment and media filtration.

Why do filters block so quickly?

Filters blocking quickly is often due to incorrect filter selection, unexpected water quality issues, high sediment loads, or lack of staged pre-filtration.

Why is my water pressure low?

Low water pressure is usually caused by undersized pumps, incorrect pressure settings, pipe restrictions, or supply limitations from municipal, borehole, or tank-fed systems.

Why does my pump keep switching on and off?

Rapid pump cycling is typically caused by pressure tank issues, incorrect pressure switch settings, leaks, or pumps that are oversized for the system demand.

When should I call a water system professional?

You should call a professional when problems repeat, systems behave unpredictably, pumps fail regularly, or when you need clarity before making costly system changes.