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Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs

A rotten egg smell usually means hydrogen sulphide gas is present in the water. This typically occurs in low-oxygen boreholes or where anaerobic bacteria are active.

What you’ll usually notice

You may notice: – a strong sulphur or rotten egg smell at taps – black slime inside toilet cisterns – metallic taste or rapid tarnishing of silver items

What’s normally behind it

This usually happens when hydrogen sulphide gas forms in the water source. Typical causes include: – anaerobic bacteria reacting with minerals in borehole water – low oxygen conditions in the aquifer – a failing sacrificial anode inside a geyser

Why quick fixes don’t stick

Many people install standard sediment or small carbon filters. These may reduce the smell briefly but clog quickly and do not treat the root cause.

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 and applying a targeted treatment process.
This often starts with aeration or oxidation, followed by filtration to remove the gas and related compounds.

What you can check yourself

You can check a few things yourself:
– see if the smell is only on hot water (possible geyser issue)
– check if both hot and cold water are affected (source issue)

When to call someone in

If the smell makes the water unpleasant to use, 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.