Methane in well water?

[maps]

Hi all

We just built a home in the mountains of WNC and have a very deep well. When we went to use the tap we noticed this strong odor of propane which we knew was not possible.

Since then I have researched it and apparantly it is methane. Has anyone encountered this and what did you do about it?

We've contacted the well company, the town, the county and the state and they have only heard of this once before! They suggested that we shock the well with chlorine.

I have no idea who to contact about this problem and if this water will be safe enough to drink. Right now it smells and tastes awful (just from rinsing our mouths with toothbrushing).

Thanks

 

[DrCavin]

Guy here at work had same issue. Had to have a seperator installed to remove the gas, was about $2500

 

[DISdreamin']

You know, the weird thing is I don't think methane actually has a smell.

I'd think what you are detecting is some kind of sulfur-containing compound that is present, perhaps along with methane, but I don't believe methane could be the actual source of the smell. Have you had the water tested? That would probably be the first step in figuring out how to deal with the cause of the smell.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If it is methane, do not attempt to use that water to put out a fire.

 

[crashbb]

I read this a "methadone" in well water.

I found a few sites:

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex10840

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/districts/homepage/california/SSA/5600-FS-DEP2690.pdf

They do say that methane is colourless and odourless - so there may be something else in your water (along with the methane).

 

[Geoff_M]

We just built a home in the mountains of WNC and have a very deep well. When we went to use the tap we noticed this strong odor of propane which we knew was not possible.

Since then I have researched it and apparantly it is methane.

However, methane is odorless... which is one of the reasons it's so dangerous in mines.

 

[drag n' fly]

If it is methane your water well was drilled too deep into a coal seam. Even if you move the well 5 feet you will still encounter the methane. Up here if you hit methane while drilling a water well it must be cemented in and re-drilled at a shallower depth.

 

[maps]

It's definitely not a sulfur smell--we've experienced that before.

The odor is amazingly like propane--even my builder didn't believe me until he smelled it himself.

I'm getting the water tested but because we are assuming it is a chemical they are not able to give me any way to test or treat it.

Very frustrating!

Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[drag n' fly]

It's definitely not a sulfur smell--we've experienced that before.

The odor is amazingly like propane--even my builder didn't believe me until he smelled it himself.

I'm getting the water tested but because we are assuming it is a chemical they are not able to give me any way to test or treat it.

Very frustrating!

Thanks for all your suggestions.

That definitely sounds like methane. Methane also contains a small amount of propane and that is where your smell is coming from.

 

[DISdreamin']

That definitely sounds like methane. Methane also contains a small amount of propane and that is where your smell is coming from.

Umm...propane is also odorless, actually. Again the smell is likely coming from some contaminant, not the actual hydrocarbon you are worried about. The odors we associate with natural gas and propane are (smelly) additives to allow a leak to be detected using one of our most readily available methods - our nose.

OP, good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

[drag n' fly]

Umm...propane is also odorless, actually. Again the smell is likely coming from some contaminant, not the actual hydrocarbon you are worried about. The odors we associate with natural gas and propane are (smelly) additives to allow a leak to be detected using one of our most readily available methods - our nose.

OP, good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Yes propane does not smell on it's own. Additives are added to detect smell. Methane is a combination of several types of gases including propane. When this gas is trapped in a coal seam and mixes with the water table it can cause a gas smell in your water.