Water Contaminants
Sulfur
Sulfur (also known as hydrogen sulfide gas) can occur naturally in ground water or be produced by plant or other organic substances decomposed. It is characterized by a signature rotten egg smell. Not only does it give off an offensive taste and odor, but it can even turn certain beverages like scotch and whiskey a black color. Any beverage prepared with the water will be negatively affected.
In the case where water contains iron and hydrogen sulfide gas, they will combine to form iron sulfide, which is black in color. This is not only unpleasant but may stain clothing and other items.
Carbon Filter
If you have ongoing sulfur issues, other unpleasant tastes or odors, a carbon filter may be needed.
This filter consists of a mineral tank filled with media (often referred to as a bed) and a control head. As your water passes through the filter, the impurities in your water are attracted to the media particles inside the tank. The particles attach to the media inside the tank, removing them from the water before it exits the filter.
Eventually the media inside the tank becomes saturated, so the timer on the head of the system is set to automatically backwash the filter every few days to clean out the media inside the tank.
If there is a power outage, or after daylight savings, you will need to reset the timer. This is important to reset because you don’t want to unknowingly use water during a backwash cycle. Please see the Resetting Backwash Cycle page for timer resetting instructions.
Carbon filters require very little maintenance but the media bed inside the tank does eventually wear out. The media will need to be replaced every 2–5 years, depending on the level of impurities and amount of water used daily.