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There can be various reasons why your water may taste funny or smell bad. Possible causes could be the presence of contaminants. Well water that contains a naturally occurring element, such as sulfur or other minerals, or a microorganism, such as sulfur-reducing bacteria, which can produce a rotten egg smell, are common causes. The only way to know exactly what is causing a change in taste or smell is to have your water tested.
To ensure you are protecting your family’s health, we have developed a set of recommendations for testing that are provided in our article, "What do I need to know about sampling my well water?". When testing your well water you will very rarely be testing for only one thing, like iron, and instead testing for a suite of constituents that are important to identify if in your drinking water.
It’s important to note that private wells are not regulated, so it’s your responsibility to maintain and test your well regularly to ensure its safety. If you’re experiencing issues with the taste and smell of your water, it is recommended to have your water tested by a standard lab that uses standard equipment to identify the specific cause and determine the appropriate treatment method.
Where can I get local help and information to help identify why my well water tastes funny or smells bad?
Contact your local health department – They can help you interpret your sample results and may have information on the best treatment options for your situation. If they personally aren’t able to answer your questions, they will know who to contact who will be able to help you, likely at your state health department.
Contact a water treatment professional - we would recommend contacting a water treatment professional who has been certified through the Water Quality Association’s Professional Certification Program.
State or Federal Geologic or Water Resource Agency – they may have completed field studies of your area or collected samples from water wells to map and understand the water quality in your state. In addition, they may house water well logs, including yours, or be able to provide additional information about the aquifer your well is getting water from.
Consult your well driller or drilling contractor – the contractor that drilled your well, and other local contractors, may be aware of the water quality issues nearby including high iron, and might have worked with other well owners in your area to solve this issue.
Research online – you should be inquisitive; it will help you significantly because there may be great information available online. Use search terms like “my state (CA, ME, IL, etc.) water well logs”, “my state groundwater quality”, or “my state well water quality”.
Contact us directly – if these other local sources don’t work out for you, we may be able to help. We may be able to provide direct assistance, and/or direct you to a technical assistance provider in your area who can help answer your questions (free service funded by USEPA).
Want to learn more about your private well and how to care for it?
Sign up for the free 10-week email course from PrivateWellClass.org. The class is a project of RCAP and the University of Illinois, with funding from USEPA.
Not finding the answer you need?
Send us a message in the chat or call us at 1-866-945-0699.