Common customer complaint: “My hot water stinks”

Abstract

Non‐pathogenic anaerobic bacteria, such as Desulfuvibrio desulfuricans, form enzymes as a metabolic function that accelerate the sulfate‐reduction reaction. The subsequent production of hydrogen sulfide gas creates a distinctive rotten egg odor which causes many customer complaints. Oxidation by chlorination, maintenance of chlorine residuals in the distribution system, cathodic protection, and ion exchange water softeners are discussed. Remedies for rotten egg odor include maintaining chlorine residuals, flushing distribution lines, killing bacteria with heat, replacing magnesium anode rods, and removing cathodic‐protection anodes.