Hydrogen sulfide
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Hydrogen sulfide is a constituent of crude petroleum and natural gas; it is also released from decomposing waste in landfills and sewers, and from industrial facilities. Hydrogen sulfide has a rotten egg odor. It can irritate the eyes and respiratory system.
2017-2019:
3
states detected
6
utilities detected
8,090
people served
Health concerns for hydrogen sulfide
Eye and lung irritation
States reporting hydrogen sulfide in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Virginia | 2 | 5,181 | |
| Ohio | 2 | 2,831 | |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 78 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce hydrogen sulfide
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of hydrogen sulfide, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakwood Village Water | Oakwood, OH | 1 of 1 | 33,300.0 ppb | 608 |
| United Water Matchaponix* | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 1 | 24,000.0 ppb | 0 |
| Suez Water Manalapan Millhurst | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 1 | 24,000.0 ppb | 2,100 |
| Manalapan Township Water District Tracy Station | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 1 | 24,000.0 ppb | 800 |
| Spencerville Village | Spencerville, OH | 2 of 2 | 650.0 ppb | 2,223 |
| Brandywine | Epping, NH | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 72 |
| Mansfield Woods | Lunenburg, NH | 1 of 2 | 30.0 ppb | 6 |
| City of Chesapeake - Western Branch System | Chesapeake, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 32,326 |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 17,000 |
| City of Portsmouth* | Suffolk, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 120,400 |
| Nsa Hampton Roads, Portsmouth Annex | Norfolk, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 6,350 |
| Caroline Utility System | Bowling Green, VA | 3 of 15 | 22.5 ppb | 4,235 |
| Placid Bay Estates | Colonial Beach, VA | 2 of 3 | 3.67 ppb | 946 |
| Ft. A P Hill - Headquarters | Bowling Green, VA | 1 of 4 | 1.25 ppb | 180 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Hydrogen sulfide, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Chesapeake - Western Branch System | Chesapeake, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 32,326 |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 17,000 |
| City of Portsmouth* | Suffolk, VA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 120,400 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Hydrogen sulfide, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.