Unpleasant smell of water: causes and ways to eliminate it. What determines the taste and smell of water? The first thing you need to pay attention to: Comprehensive cleaning methods

Where does our morning begin? Most often with a cup of strong coffee, aromatic tea or a glass of clean water. We are designed in such a way that we should drink water or water-based drinks every day. Water is one of the main needs of our body. But here we need to make a clarification - the water must be clean. And questions immediately arise: “What kind of clean water is it? What is its color, taste and smell?

Water color

Physicists say that pure water is transparent in small volumes. In laboratories, a simple interesting experiment is carried out to assess water transparency. A special glass cylinder with a flat bottom is placed above the text at a height of 4 cm, and then water is gradually poured into the cylinder and the text is read. If the water is clean, then the text can be easily read through a thirty-centimeter layer of water.

The color of water depends on whether there are impurities in it. Good clean water is colorless. Impurities can give the water some color. Thus, iron colors water brownish, and hydrogen sulfide greenish.

It happens that even clean table water suddenly begins to turn green. Typically, this phenomenon can be observed in open bottles several months after purchasing water. This happens due to the fact that a large number of microorganisms are constantly present in the air. Once in the water, they begin to develop there - this is what causes the water to turn green.

When purchasing water, you need to remember that it has its own expiration date, as well as its own storage conditions. It is equally important to keep the cooler and pump clean and treat them approximately every three months. Then the water will remain clear and colorless for a long time - the way it should be.

The smell of water

Water quality can be determined using the sense of smell. To do this, just smell it. Doesn't it smell like anything? Great! So the water is good. But if there is a foreign smell, then this is not a very good sign.

Specialists in laboratories identify different types of odors of low-quality water - hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, tar, swamp, mold, putrefactive, etc. Each of these odors indicates the presence of certain substances in the water.

In the laboratory, before assessing the smell of water, it is heated to 60 ° C, since heated water smells stronger. The smell of hydrogen sulfide may appear due to the presence of microorganisms in the water. The smell of chlorine indicates that there is too much chlorine in the water, which is used to disinfect the water. And the smell of tar occurs when industrial wastewater gets into the water. So the best smell for table drinking water is its complete absence.

Taste of water

The taste of water is easy to determine - you just need to taste it. Laboratories have their own methods for determining the taste of water. To do this, the water is heated to a temperature of 30 ° C, and then the taster takes a small sip and holds the water in his mouth for several seconds. It is believed that this time is enough to feel the taste and smack of water.

Water has bitter, salty, sweet and sour tastes, as well as various tastes - marsh, oil, metal. Each of these tastes and flavors indicates the presence of some foreign substances in the water. For example, magnesium gives water a bitter taste, sodium chloride tastes salty, and organic matter tastes sweet. Pure table water should have no taste or aftertaste.

This rule does not apply to mineral water, which, due to the presence of trace elements, may have a salty or sour taste, and sometimes it may have a specific odor.

It turns out that pure table water should be transparent, colorless, odorless and tasteless. This is from a chemical point of view. But some people believe that clean water smells like wind and tastes like rain. And in some ways they are right.

Sommelier for water

It is interesting that in some countries, water cards, following the example of wine cards, and sommeliers have appeared in prestigious restaurants. Sommeliers offer visitors water in elegant glass bottles. These bottles are designed by fashion designers and the water comes from different origins. This may be spring water, water from deep underground lakes, or glacial water. One type of water is offered for meat dishes, and a completely different one for fruits and desserts.

Drinking water in our daily lives often has a strong odor, which indicates certain problems in the water supply. But we are not always talking about the appearance in huge concentrations of a harmful and rare pollutant that is dangerous to human health.

Usually the main cause of odor is poor quality water, i.e. slight contamination of the liquid, which requires additional research of the chemical composition. After the results of laboratory analysis, it is possible to restore the water to a state suitable for drinking. In general, polluting components can enter the liquid at absolutely every stage of the path from the water intake point to the home tap. Often low quality water has a chlorine smell or smells like sewage and has an unpleasant metallic taste.

This material presents an analysis of popular complaints about the smell of water and methods for self-diagnosis of the causes of this smell. Some people naively believe that the composition of drinking water is the same in every source. However, the environment with a high degree of probability always influences the chemical components and general characteristics of water. In this case, no serious transformations occur in the structure of the liquid, but the unpleasant odor appears for a long time and turns away from the water, preventing it from being used for domestic purposes. Features unusual for clean, high-quality drinking water, including odors and noticeable impurities, may appear in various cases.

About standards

The smell and taste of water relate to standard quality indicators, which are determined by the rules World Health Organization and individual regional standards. The smell of water, as well as taste, clarity and color, are physical or organoleptic quality characteristics. Typically, the smell of water is determined at a temperature of +20 degrees and heated to +60 degrees, assigning specific points to the nature of the taste and intensity of the smell. It is believed that drinking water should not score more than three points when the smell is easily noticed by the consumer and causes disapproving comments about the liquid.

Poor quality water: main reasons

The foul aroma of tap water is often the result of metal pipes in the water supply system. Also, an unpleasant odor is the result of bacterial activity.. In addition, chemicals used for disinfection can impart strange qualities to water. Finally, environmental pollution of water also leads to odor. The most important thing in the situation of obtaining clean and safe water for the world is diagnosing a specific problem, identifying its source.

First, you need to remember that water tends to react with chemical elements, algae and microorganisms found in its composition. The interaction stimulates the formation of new substances that can already change the smell of water. These components are called odorants. They appear when ammonia, iron or hydrogen sulfide dissolves in a liquid, as well as when the excretory processes of bacterial flora are active.

There are two types of water smell. Natural aroma– earthy, fishy, ​​swampy, putrid, woody, fishy, ​​moldy, hydrogen sulfide odors. Besides this, it happens artificial smell, which includes phenolic, gasoline, chlorine, medicinal and other strong aromas.

Where does the sulfur smell in water come from?

The pungent smell of hydrogen sulfide, which often reminds us of rotten eggs, is the result of water contamination by sulfur bacteria. They do not affect human health, i.e. they are completely safe, but in general they indicate the poor state of the environment.

The proliferation of sulfur bacteria occurs in situations of lack of oxygen: in a closed sewer system or deep wells. Microorganisms live in groundwater, and their life processes are supported by decomposing organic substances, which represent the main source of food for sulfur bacteria. At such a moment of feeding, hydrogen sulfide is released in a gaseous state. Water sources do not allow the substance to evaporate, hence the strong, persistent odor.

What to do in such a situation? First, determine the location. Then provide the hydrogen sulfide gas with access to fresh air, i.e. organize ventilation. In groundwater, by the way, sulfur bacteria are considered normal in low concentrations of up to 0.5 ppm. But while they are safe for water and people, they immediately give off the smell of sulfur. If the level of microorganisms in water rises 3-4 times, the liquid takes on the unbearable smell of a rotten egg.

The sulfur smell can be the result of a chemical reaction that has developed in the water heater. In such a situation, the hot water will smell unpleasant. Eliminating odor in this case involves identifying the area with bacteria, so you need to open the water tap and turn on the maximum pressure. If the odor diminishes or disappears completely, sulfur bacteria will develop in the water distribution system itself. If the smell remains or has intensified over time, the root of the problem lies in the well itself. In general, sulfur in the water supply system is not a very good sign, because over time this component corrodes the metal parts of the pipes. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to contact the laboratory and ask specialists to examine water samples.

Eliminating sewage odor and its causes

The unpleasant aroma of sewage is also a common problem when drinking drinking water. It is a consequence of sewer bacteria. Microorganisms are very harmful, but, fortunately, they do not enter the water supply system. However, they release a special gas that rises to the top and exits through the sink, accumulating near the drain hole. This gives rise to the feeling of the presence of a smell in the water itself. In general, this situation clearly indicates problems in the sewer system, namely, violations in its structure. To get rid of the smell, you need to properly install a sewer hood.

If the unpleasant plume only follows hot water, there are problems with the heating tank. Bacteria multiply in it due to the constant use of equipment at low temperatures or due to frequent shutdowns of equipment for a long period. The main preventive measure here is to boil the liquid in a heating tank once or twice a month.

Regularly heating water only to +40 degrees, you stimulate the appearance of unpleasant odors. When you have an old heater, it makes sense to also drain the water and organize a major tank cleaning.

A temporary neutralizer of unpleasant odors in the boiler is a special filter installed. But it still doesn’t solve the problem, so use a whole range of effective measures:

• Drain the boiler and distribution system completely.
• Fill the system with clean water and turn on the equipment at maximum power.
• When the boiler has worked in intensive mode for 10-12 hours, drain the water from the entire system.
• Repeat the second step. This completes the preparation of the heater for normal operation.

With such measures, you can clean the system of bacteria very quickly and return hot water to normal. But whenever a smell appears, do not forget to find out whether the pipes or the liquid itself smell. Just pour water into a cup, step away from the sink and smell the contents of the container. Carry out this procedure with both cold and hot water to accurately determine the source and odor. If the liquid in the glass does not give off anything, the reason lies in the drainage system or pipes.

Unpleasant odor from well water: where does it come from?

First of all, the pronounced smell of water indicates the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide in the well. Its appearance there is due to the fact that underground water sources contain many chemical components, such as sulfur, iron, manganese and ammonia.

• If the water smells like rust, then it contains iron salts that have reacted with oxygen.
• Chlorinating well water to remove bacterial flora stimulates the development of a chlorine odor.
• And if the liquid smells like ammonia, it contains ammonia compounds.
• If there are organic components in the water, it will eventually begin to rot, become musty and smell like swamp or earth.
• The presence of manganese particles also affects the composition and smell of water. At high concentrations, these mineral compounds provide the liquid with a salty taste.
• The smell of iodine is considered the most dangerous, because it indicates the appearance of industrial waste in the groundwater layer. In such a situation, it is necessary to stop drinking liquids, because phenol, a product of iodine excretion, is extremely dangerous for the human body, i.e., it inhibits the functioning of the nervous system. The smell of phenol is often similar to the aroma of gouache paints.
• The smell of fish and mustiness is formed as a result of nitrogen-containing substances entering the liquid, for example, the remains of some algae or plants.

Please note that poor water quality is not only an odor, but also a changed color. For example, calcium salts form a dense white suspension, and calcium in combination with magnesium causes the formation of scale on dishes. Hydrogen sulfide reveals itself as dark stains on silverware and a yellow coating on the sink. The yellow color of the water is associated with humic acid, and the multi-colored stains are associated with petroleum products.

Naturally, in such a situation with odors, the suitability of water for consumption is questionable. The problem is especially relevant for owners of private cottages and plots. Elimination of odor in this case is necessary as soon as possible.

Water purification and removal of unwanted odors

If you want to change the chemical composition of water for the better and improve the quality of the liquid to meet the requirements of SanPiN, pay attention to comprehensive purification measures through filtration.

Pre-cleaning

This method is suitable for treating water from a shallow well. The liquid being purified settles and is even exposed to the influence of reagents. A specific filter is determined by the chemical characteristics of the water, so laboratory analysis of the liquid is required.

Removal of hydrogen sulfide compounds

There are three main ways to destroy hydrogen sulfide, depending on its chemical properties.

• Physical method– water bubbling – implies saturation of the liquid with oxygen and accelerated weathering of hydrogen sulfide due to the operation of the compressor.
• Chemical method involves the dosed addition of oxidizing agents, i.e., salts of various chemicals, for example, sulfur, to water.
• Sorption method is based on the fact that hydrogen sulfide takes on an insoluble form in water and settles out, so it is easy to filter.

Eliminating iron odor

If there are iron salts in the well, then the water, being initially transparent and clean, quickly turns into a cloudy and yellow liquid. The brightness of the color directly depends on the concentration of iron, since it reacts with oxygen from the air.

After a couple of days the water will become clear again. But at the bottom you will see a thick layer of brownish sediment. The high iron content gives the water not just a rusty smell, but an identical unpleasant taste. The situation can only be resolved by aeration - saturation of water with oxygen or oxidation with reagents. But in private property, it is quite difficult and expensive to carry out such a procedure for personal purposes.

Therefore, owners of individual water supply sources, as practice shows, more often resort to pumping water through a purification system. The water filter has several replaceable cartridges of different types, which are not limited to mechanical water treatment. The components in the filter cartridge interact with the liquid and remove chemical contaminants by almost 100%.

How to remove the swamp smell?

The main mistake most water users make is that they equate visual cleanliness with an ideal composition. In fact, if the liquid comes from the well without unnecessary impurities and with a normal, unclouded color, this does not mean that there are no compounds and suspensions of various types in it. The actual composition of water can only be determined after contacting a laboratory, where appropriate analyzes of the liquid are carried out.

In the presence of various bacteria, algae and organic compounds, the water can acquire a swampy smell. It is not only unpleasant, but also difficult to remove. Here, users will need complex liquid purification, which involves the stage of adsorption with activated carbon. The correct approach and gradual solution to the problem completely destroys swampy and putrid odors near the water. The charcoal does its job very quickly, and the filtration system additionally removes the pollutants that cause the odor. Thus, a high-quality comprehensive water purification system includes:

• , destroying microorganisms;
• reverse osmosis system that removes iron and mechanical impurities;
• , preventing the passage of suspensions that penetrated the membrane at the previous stage.

If you install the entire filtration complex in sequence, the water will be purified quickly and very effectively. In this situation, the most important issue is the choice of a specific water treatment system. If you understand little about this, entrust the process to professionals in this field.

Today, the Ukrainian market offers consumers enough manufacturers of water purification systems that produce high-quality equipment of various configurations. It can be difficult to choose the right type of filter for your water on your own, so consulting a specialist will never be superfluous.

And of course, you should not install a water treatment system yourself, even if after reading the materials on the Internet it seems that you understand everything. It is much easier and more convenient to contact directly a company that installs filters and will provide you with additional services: consultation on the choice of equipment, analysis of the composition of water in a well or borehole, delivery of the system and its connection. Remember also that the company must provide you with some guarantees and provide coverage in case of various breakdowns.

Do the experiments according to the instructions in the textbook. Identify and name the purpose of each experiment, and verbally describe its progress. Write down your conclusions from the experiments in your workbook.

Experience 1. Place a spoon in a glass of water. Is she visible? What property of water does this indicate?

The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether the water is clear.

We lower a spoon into a glass of water and see that the spoon is visible both above the surface of the water and under the water.

Conclusion: the water is clear

Experience 2.

Compare the color of the water with the color of the stripes shown in the textbook. Does water have color?

The purpose of the experiment is to determine what color the water is.

Compare the water in the glass with the stripes from the textbook. We make sure that the water is not red, not green, not blue, and not even white.

Conclusion: the water is colorless.

Experience 3. Determine whether clean water has an odor.

The purpose of the experiment is to determine whether the water has an odor.

Let's smell the water in the glass. We don't smell anything.

Conclusion: the water has no odor.

Experience 4. Pour a little salt into one glass of water, and the same amount of crushed chalk into the other. Stop it. What happened? What does this experience say?

The purpose of the experiment is to determine whether water can dissolve various substances.

Place some salt in a glass of water and stir. The salt disappeared, it dissolved in the water. Throw the crushed chalk into another glass and stir. The chalk did not dissolve.

Conclusion: Water can dissolve many substances, but not all.

Experience 5. Make a filter from special paper according to the drawing instructions. Pass contaminated water through the filter. What are you observing?

The purpose of the experiment is to test whether contaminated water can be purified.

Pour contaminated water into a glass through a paper filter. The water in the glass will be clean, but the filter will become dirty.

Conclusion: water can be purified from impurities using filters.

Experience 6. Place a flask with a tube filled with colored water into hot water. We will see that the water in the tube rises. Why?

The purpose of the experiment is to find out how water behaves when heated.

Place a flask of water in hot water and see that the water in the flask rises.

Conclusion: When heated, water expands as water particles begin to move faster.

Experience 7. Place the same flask in a plate with ice. The water in the tube drops. How do you explain this?

The purpose of the experiment is to find out how water behaves when cooled.

Place the flask with water in a plate with ice. The water in the flask descends.

Conclusion: When water cools, it contracts because the water particles begin to move more slowly.

Properties of water

1. Read the text on p. 51. Find two sentences in it that briefly reveal the meaning of water for living beings. Do you agree that these sentences are as follows: “Water is part of any organism”; “For many organisms, water is a natural home”? Expand these ideas using information from the text.

These are true sentences that reveal the meaning of water for living beings.

From the text we learn that water is part of any living organism, which means a living organism cannot exist without water.

We also learn that water is a natural home for many organisms. This means that these organisms cannot exist without water.

2. Look at the bottom picture on p. 53. Explain what happens to water particles when it is heated and cooled.

When heated, water particles begin to move faster, they collide with each other more strongly and fly apart over long distances. This means that when heated, water expands and increases its volume.

When cooling, the opposite happens. Water particles move more slowly, collide weaker, and scatter over short distances. This means that when water cools, it contracts and reduces its volume.

3. Water dissolves many substances. Where is this property used in everyday life? Compare your answer with the answers of other guys. Draw a general conclusion.

The ability of water to dissolve other substances is used in cooking. We dissolve salt, sugar, coffee in water to add flavor to food or get a delicious drink.

Conclusion: the ability of water to dissolve other substances has long been used by humans for their own purposes.

check yourself

1. What role does water play in the life of organisms?

Without water, the existence of living organisms is impossible, because it is part of any living organism, and for some it is also a home.

2. How did we study the properties of water?

We studied the properties of water through experiments.

3. What properties of water do you now know about?

I know such properties of water as transparency, colorlessness, odorlessness, the ability to expand when heated and contract when cooled, and the ability to dissolve other substances.

4. How can contaminated water be purified?

Contaminated water can be purified using special filters.

Homework assignment

Note in your workbook how many glasses of water, cups of tea, and other drinks you and your family members drink per day. Draw a conclusion.

On average, my family members drank about one and a half liters of water every day. Because a person cannot live a day without water.

Next lesson

Remember the properties of snow and ice. Answer the questions:

1. What are clouds made of?

Clouds are made up of water vapor and water droplets.

2. Why is it raining?

It rains because the water droplets in the clouds become too large to stay in the air.

3. How is snow formed?

Snow forms when water droplets freeze in the air.

Card file of experiences and experiments. Water.

EXPERIENCE

"Properties of Water"

Target.

Introduce children to the properties of water (takes shape, has no smell, taste, color).

Materials. Several transparent vessels of different shapes, water.

Process. Pour water into transparent vessels of different shapes and show the children that the water takes the shape of the vessels.

Bottom line. Water has no form and takes the shape of the vessel into which it is poured.

Taste of water.

Target. Find out if the water has a taste.

Materials. Water, three glasses, salt, sugar, spoon.

Process. Before experimenting, ask what the water tastes like. After this, let the children try plain boiled water. Then put salt in one glass. In another sugar, stir and let the children try. What taste does the water have now?

Bottom line. Water has no taste, but takes on the taste of the substance that is added to it.

The smell of water.

Target. Find out if the water has an odor.

Materials. A glass of water with sugar, a glass of water with salt, an odorous solution.

Process. Ask the children what does the water smell like? After answering, ask them to smell the water in the glasses with solutions (sugar and salt). Then drop a fragrant solution into one of the glasses (but so that children cannot see). Now what does the water smell like?

Bottom line. Water has no odor, it smells of the substance that is added to it.

Water color.

Target. Find out if the water has a color.

Materials. Several glasses of water, crystals of different colors.

Process. Have the children put different colored crystals into glasses of water and stir until they dissolve. What color is the water now?

Bottom line. Water is colorless and takes on the color of the substance that is added to it.

On the topic: methodological developments, presentations and notes

CARD FILE OF EXPERIMENTS AND EXPERIMENTS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH WATER

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Card index of experiences and experiments "WATER SAND"

“How the water went for a walk” Purpose: to give an idea that water can be collected with various objects - a sponge, pipette, pear, napkin. Material: foam sponge, plastic syringe without needles...

CARD OF EXPERIMENTS AND EXPERIMENTS FOR CHILDREN “EXPERIMENTS WITH WATER”

CARD FILE OF EXPERIMENTS AND EXPERIMENTS FOR CHILDREN “EXPERIMENTS WITH WATER” CARD FILE OF EXPERIMENTS AND EXPERIMENTS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN “EXPERIMENTS WITH WATER” Prepared by: teacher Domnina A.E. Tse...

Help a clueless woman figure it out.
The well was drilled at the end of January. Lyubertsy district, SNT Zenino. Further, according to the passport, I don’t know what is important from this: well 38 m, casing columns constructor F = 133 from 0 to 28 m. material steel: 4.5 mm. Open hole Ф=124 mm from 28 to 38 m. Test pumping results: static level - 15, dynamic - 16, pump installation 24 m, productivity 3 m3/h.
At first everything was fine, the water looked normal, there was no smell. Nobody used water. A month ago, when the house was already standing and it was necessary to introduce water, they decided to start pumping and do an analysis. We pumped for a day, I took the bottle and took it to the SES, for 9 indicators plus organoleptic.
Almost immediately after pumping, the water began to smell unbearably, even washing your hands was disgusting. The analysis showed excesses:
Turbidity (formazin) - more than 8 (norm is not more than 3.5)
Iron (total) 5.9 (no more than 0.3)
Fluorine more than 1 (no more than 1.5, I don’t know why it was also isolated)
Ammonia and ammonium ion (nitrogen) more than 3 (no more than 1.5)
I didn’t test for hydrogen sulfide, although judging by the smell, it’s there too.
They drained it for several days, but to no avail. It seems like it stinks less, then it smells again, especially as soon as you turn it on. There is water in the sump; when pumping, its level does not drop. I interviewed neighbors and the chairman of SNT, no one encountered the problem of a pungent odor, although at what depth. The water in our well does not stink either. Once upon a time there was something in this place; you can stumble upon old pipes under almost the entire SNT, but that was a very long time ago. According to securities, SNT has been operating since 1994. Groundwater is high, now 50 cm from the surface.
I'm bothering the installers, they advise me to either pump it, then plug it into the well, clean the well and use it (ha! did I pay 64 thousand rubles for fun or something? I like making holes in the ground), then pump out the water from the pit . They don’t go themselves and don’t figure it out on the spot.
Here's what I should do next! We are planning to move in a month. There will be 7 of us permanently living in the house plus a baby. I need clean water! And my “waterman” declares that I will not have clean water; in any case, I will have to boil it to drink and cook. How to boil water for 8 people! Should I keep a separate barrel for drinking?
Could this situation arise due to improper installation of the well? The construction is nearing the end and there are only debts in the wallet, no money for rework and a bunch of tests. Can it be clogged and really just install a good cleaning system? What could this cost me, given our high consumption?
According to the contract, the contractor is not responsible for hydrogen sulfide. There are only 2 points covered by the warranty:
- the appearance of clay and limestone chips in the water.
- lack of water in the well.
Maybe the whiteness of the water is “limestone chips”?
Or should I lag behind the poor water workers, am I just so lucky and should I drill somewhere else?