Hydrogen sulfide bacteria are responsible for producing sulfur in water. These bacteria are naturally found in soil, tree roots, and underground water reservoirs, so private wells dug near them are at risk of contamination.
Although hydrogen sulfide poses no health risks, it gives off a stench comparable to rotten eggs. As most would agree, smelly water hardly makes an ideal choice for basic household chores like laundry and dishwashing, let alone drinking and bathing.
Many private well owners seek solutions to prevent hydrogen sulfide from ending in their faucets. But, with the water treatment niche offering so many products that claim to remove hydrogen sulfide, you may not know where to start, whom to believe, and what to purchase.
To clear the air, we researched, tested, and evaluated different water filters to conclude that the US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System is the best water filter for neutralizing sulfur.
Nevertheless, other filters may better suit your budget or household needs, so keep reading to find your best choice.
- Flow Rate: 10 GPM (with further options)
- Contaminants Removed: 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 20 ppm of iron, 1 ppm of manganese
- Warranty: Lifetime on the tank, 10 years on the valves and electronics, 5 years on the precise injection panel
- Flow Rate: 10 GPM (with further options)
- Contaminants Removed: 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 20 ppm of iron, 1 ppm of manganese
- Warranty: 10 years on the tank, 5 years on the valves and electronics, 2 years on the precise injection panel
- Flow Rate: 12 GPM
- Contaminants Removed: 8 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 7 ppm of iron, 1 ppm of manganese
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
- Flow Rate: 12 GPM
- Contaminants Removed: 8 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 2 ppm of iron
- Warranty: 10 years
Reviews of the Best Sulfur Filters for Well Water
US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System – Best Overall Sulfur Filter for Well Water
- Flow Rate: 10 GPM (with further options)
- Contaminants Removed: 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 20 ppm of iron, 1 ppm of manganese
- Warranty: Lifetime on the tank, 10 years on the valves and electronics, 5 years on the precise injection panel
- Removes 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide
- Precise air injection panel
- Vortech backwash tech ensures shorter and more thorough cleansing
- Removes 20 ppm of iron
- Lifetime warranty on the tank
- Expensive
- Electronic components have five to ten years of warranty
- Requires professional installation
Does your water have extreme hydrogen sulfide levels that average whole-house filtration systems can’t handle? Then you should buy the US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion. Thanks to its incredible 30 ppm hydrogen removal capacity, it’s more than an adequate match for any sulfur concentration.
Most sulfur and iron filters for well water operate based on a technology called air injection oxidation (AIO). In AIO, the filtration device introduces an oxidation agent into the water, which oxidizes small hydrogen sulfide and iron particles, making them bigger and easier to trap, block, or filter out hydrogen sulfide.
US Water Systems Matrixx employs AIO, similar to most other products on the market. However, the device owes impressive success to the oxidation agent utilized in the process. While other devices depend on chlorine, dissolved oxygen, or potassium permanganate for oxidation, Matrixx injects hydrogen peroxide.
The injection process is remarkably precise, too, thanks to the innovative Stenner Injection Panel.
Additionally, Matrixx uses a unique technology called Vortech for the backwash cycle that cleanses the device’s filtration media from trapped contaminants. Thanks to the Vortech technology, the backwash process is more thorough and takes less time.
In addition to its hydrogen sulfide reduction, Matrixx is one of the best iron filters on the market. Thanks to its employment of hydrogen peroxide, it removes up to 20 ppm of iron from well water.
The device comes with different flow rate options: 10 GPM (1-3 bathrooms), 15 GPM (4-6 bathrooms), and 20-25 GPM (7+ bathrooms). Inevitably, as the flow rate option increases, so does the number on the price tag.
Speaking of the price tag, Matrixx is one of the most expensive devices designed for sulfur. And although US Water Systems offers a lifetime warranty on the tank, the innovative electronic pieces, like the precise injection panel, have five to ten years of warranty.
On a final note, you need a professional plumber to have it installed.
Fleck 2510 Hydrogen Peroxide System – Runner-Up Sulfur Filter for Well Water
- Flow Rate: 10 GPM (with further options)
- Contaminants Removed: 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 20 ppm of iron, 1 ppm of manganese
- Warranty: 10 years on the tank, 5 years on the valves and electronics, 2 years on the precise injection panel
- Removes 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide and 20 ppm of iron
- Affordable (when compared to Matrixx)
- Stenner Injection Panel
- Water flow decreases to 5 GPM during backwash
- Only a 10-year warranty on the tank
- Electronic components have 2-5 years of warranty
Is the US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System too much for your budget? You need not worry, as the Fleck 2510 Hydrogen Peroxide System comes with similar features but costs $1,000 less.
As can be deduced from its name, the Fleck 2510 also utilizes hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Once hydrogen peroxide oxidizes hydrogen sulfide, a state-of-the-art catalytic carbon media traps the particles of this pollutant. In the end, the system removes 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide and 20 ppm of iron, just as the Matrixx model.
The unit then backwashes itself once every two days in an automatically-initiated process. However, if too many contaminants are trapped inside the catalytic carbon bed, the device automatically adjusts to a more frequent backwash cycle.
Similar to the Matrixx, Fleck 2510 employs a Stenner Injection Panel for optimum efficiency during hydrogen peroxide injection. Not only does this ensure more precise oxidation, but it also prolongs the device’s lifespan.
So, if the system shares almost all the advantages of the Matrixx Infusion, why is it much more affordable?
First, Fleck 2510 doesn’t feature Vortech backwash technology, meaning its backwash process will take longer than that of Matrixx and be less thorough. The device’s flow rate also decreases to 5 GPM from its regular 10 GPM flow during backwash.
Second, the manufacturer’s warranty options are not nearly as good as those of US Water Systems’. The Fleck 2510 filter comes with a ten-year warranty on its tank, and the warranties on its electronic components range between two and five years.
SpringWell WS Whole House Well Water Filter System – The Most Durable Sulfur Filter for Well Water
- Flow Rate: 12 GPM
- Contaminants Removed: 8 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 7 ppm of iron, 1 ppm of manganese
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
- 8 ppm hydrogen sulfide removal capacity is excellent for average households
- Empress Vortech ensures optimum backwash
- BlueTooth app
- Made in USA
- Lifetime warranty
- Not the most impressive product in terms of hydrogen removal capacity
SpringWell is one of our favorite brands for well water filtration, be it for water softening, iron filtering, or whole-house filtration.
Although a bit less effective when compared to Matrixx and Fleck 2510, SpringWell WS will do a great job providing sulfur-free water for you and your family for years on end, thanks to its lifetime warranty and robust build.
Despite the extreme capacities of Matrixx and Fleck 2510, the hydrogen sulfide levels in well water rarely reach up to 30 ppm. In fact, the average presence of hydrogen sulfide in well water is 0.5 ppm throughout the United States.
That’s why SpringWell WS remains one of the best options for families who rely on private wells for their daily water supply. Its 8 ppm hydrogen sulfide removal capacity is more than enough for most households.
SpringWell’s product employs dissolved oxygen to oxidize hydrogen sulfide through an air pocket at the tank’s top side. Then, a green sand fusion traps the oxidized sulfur particles.
The backwash technology of its WS model is also an upgrade from Matrixx’s Vortech tech. SpringWell WS features an even more innovative technology called Empress Vortech, ensuring a faster backwash process. Thanks to the vortex created by the Empress Vortech, the filtration media is cleansed more thoroughly. The vortex creates more contact surface between the backwashing water and the green sand.
Additionally, all SpringWell water treatment products have a system head allowing you to monitor the filtration process via a BlueTooth app and run your backwash cycles. SpringWell WS is no exception to that rule, and the app greatly eases the device’s maintenance.
However, it remains that the device’s hydrogen sulfide removal capacity is modest compared to Matrixx and Fleck 2510. So, it’s not the first choice if you have too much hydrogen sulfide in your water.
AquaOx RE Edition – The Most Budget-Friendly Sulfur Filter for Well Water
- Flow Rate: 12 GPM
- Contaminants Removed: 8 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, 2 ppm of iron
- Warranty: 10 years
- Affordable
- Decent hydrogen sulfide removal capacity at 8 ppm
- Great flow rate at 12 GPM
- Backwash takes longer than it does in other devices on our list
- Potential damage by chlorine
- Iron removal capacity is modest at 2 ppm
- Only ten-year warranty
AquaOx specifically designs whole-house well water filters for different contaminants. Their AquaOx FE Edition model is one of the best and most budget-friendly choices for iron removal. The AquaOx RE Edition is its equally effective counterpart for sulfur (or hydrogen sulfide), RE standing for ‘rotten eggs.’
Similarly to SpringWell WS, Aquax RE is ideal for private wells with moderate amounts of hydrogen sulfide thanks to its 8 ppm removal capacity.
We like this unit because it neutralizes the rotten eggs smell associated with sulfur without forcing your budget as much as the other high-end products. Compared to the other filtration devices on our list, the AquaOX RE model costs less than $2,000 ($1,999).
Another reason why AquaOx RE emerges as the best option among its budget-friendly competition is because it sports a 12 GPM flow rate. That number is not only the best flow rate option for such an affordable sulfur filter but also the best flow rate option on our list.
As can be deduced from its removal capacity, which is the same as SpringWell WS1, AquaOx RE Edition utilizes dissolved oxygen to oxidize hydrogen sulfide particles.
However, the backwash process of AquaOx RE is the slowest out of all the products on our list (almost an hour) since the device doesn’t employ innovative backwash technologies like the Vortech tech. So, you may experience a drop in water pressure during backwash.
Additionally, you must turn the device off if you have shock-chlorinated your well due to bacterial contamination. The manufacturer warns customers that exposing the filtration media to chlorine will likely damage the device and reduce its efficiency.
The AquaOx also has the lowest iron removal capacity on our list, with only 2 ppm. So if you want to take care of iron and sulfur, it’s not the device for the job.
Lastly, the manufacturer offers only a 10-year warranty for the whole setup, including the tank. Although it’s better than the warranty option of the Fleck device, it’s still inferior to what the SpringWell and US Water Systems offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the most commonly asked questions about hydrogen sulfide bacteria, rotten eggs smell, and sulfur filters.
Before purchasing a sulfur filter, it’s imperative to identify the root of the rotten eggs’ smell. There are a couple of reasons why you may be experiencing a sulfur smell at your faucets:
Hydrogen sulfide bacteria/gas inside the drains: If hydrogen sulfide bacteria are forming inside your drains, the faucets and sinks above those drains will emit a rotten eggs’ smell. By taking the water you collect from faucets out to fresh air in a cup and smelling it, you may decide whether the smell originates from the water supply or the drains. If the water doesn’t smell, you should call a plumber and have your drains checked and sanitized.
Sulfur bacteria inside the water heater: Sulfur bacteria may also form inside your water heater, especially if you haven’t used or cleaned the heater for a while. If that’s the case, only the hot water will stink of rotten eggs. Once you confirm, call a professional and check your water heater.
Contaminated private well: Municipal authorities often disinfect water lines with chlorine and chloramines, so municipal water rarely has a rotten eggs problem. The case is not so with private wells. Especially wells and aquifers near sulfur-rich soil and rocks are highly likely to be contaminated with hydrogen sulfide bacteria.
Hydrogen sulfide in drinking water doesn’t pose health risks. However, as we established above and as many would agree, drinking water that smells like rotten eggs or bathing in it is not a pleasant experience.
If hydrogen sulfide bacteria has contaminated your water source (i.e., private well), you should purchase a water filter for sulfur.
While hydrogen doesn’t pose any health risks and you may be able to withstand the stench during bathing, it could lead to other problems, including:
Production of slime and promotion of other bacteria: When high in intensity, hydrogen sulfide forms a slimy substance that clogs pipes and appliances. Additionally, it promotes the breeding of other types of bacteria, like iron bacteria, that lead to rust and corrosion. Preventing these by purchasing a sulfur filter is more reasonable and economical than replacing the whole piping system of your household due to corrosion.
Staining: Upon constant and consistent exposure to metals such as iron, steel, copper, and brass during dishwashing or cleaning chores, hydrogen sulfide gas will lead to the formation of black stains on appliances and dishes. Silver kitchenware is highly prone to them in particular.
Usually, the smell of rotten eggs is an obvious giveaway concerning hydrogen sulfide. However, if you want indisputable scientific proof that hydrogen sulfide is present in your water supply, you should collect a water sample from one of your cold water faucets (to eliminate the potential contamination in the water heater) and send it to a water testing lab certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.
For a price ranging between $25 and $400 and a period between a couple of days to a couple of weeks, you’ll receive a detailed analysis of your water. This analysis will let you know which contaminants are in your water and at what levels, including hydrogen sulfide.
The most powerful sulfur filters currently on the market are the US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System and the Fleck 2510. Both remove up to 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide from water.
The only differences between the two are the following:
While the former comes with a lifetime warranty on its tank, the latter has only a ten-year warranty.
The former utilizes a more innovative backwash technology with Vortech.
A good sulfur filter costs approximately $2,000-$3,000.
That said, the US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System on our list is above that range at $3,245.72. AquaOx RE Edition, on the other hand, is just one dollar below the lower limit with its $1,999 price tag.
Conclusion
Sulfur bacteria in well water often cause a smell like rotten eggs coming out of your faucets and lead to clogging, corrosion, and stains in pipes, appliances, and kitchenware. This is why the general recommendation is to use a filter specifically designed to neutralize it.
For that purpose, our most favored recommendation is the US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System with its 30 ppm hydrogen sulfide capacity, Vortech backwash technology, and a lifetime warranty on its tank.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly product with the same capacity as the Matrixx, the Fleck 2510 is a solid option with a slightly less impressive warranty and backwash tech.
If the sulfide levels in your well water don’t surpass 8 ppm, the SpringWell WS, with its 8 ppm capacity, lifetime warranty, and a BlueTooth app, is a very solid option.
On the other hand, AquaOx RE Edition is a perfect choice for those in the market for a budget-friendly unit. It removes 8 ppm of hydrogen sulfide from water with a remarkable 12 GPM flow rate.
