Well water guide

Fixing common well water problems in North Atlanta.

Iron staining, sulfur smell, sediment — the three complaints we hear most from well owners in Cherokee, Forsyth, and North Fulton counties. Here's what's causing them and how to solve them.

Iron staining (orange/brown stains)

Symptoms

Rusty streaks in toilets, tubs, and sinks. Laundry comes out with orange spots. Water looks clear at the tap but turns yellow after sitting.

Cause

North Georgia well water frequently contains dissolved iron from the region's clay and granite geology. When iron meets air, it oxidizes and stains everything it touches.

Solution

An air-injection oxidizing filter (AIO) or a chemical-free iron filter removes iron before it reaches your plumbing. For very high iron levels, we pair oxidation with a backwashing media tank.

Sulfur smell (rotten egg odor)

Symptoms

Water smells like rotten eggs — usually stronger from the hot tap. Silver flatware tarnishes quickly. Yellow staining on fixtures.

Cause

Hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the well water, often produced by sulfur-reducing bacteria in the aquifer or water heater.

Solution

An oxidizing filter (AIO or catalytic carbon) removes hydrogen sulfide from the whole home. For bacterial sources, we may also shock-chlorinate the well and heater.

Sediment (cloudy or gritty water)

Symptoms

Cloudy water, sand or grit at the bottom of glasses, clogged aerators, appliances failing early.

Cause

Silt, sand, or fine clay pulled from the aquifer — common after heavy rain or when a well pump is deep in a sandy zone.

Solution

A whole-home spin-down sediment filter followed by a fine cartridge filter protects every fixture and downstream treatment equipment.

Hardness, low pH, and bacteria

Symptoms

Scale on fixtures, blue-green stains from copper pipe corrosion, or intermittent gastrointestinal issues.

Cause

Many North Atlanta wells run acidic (low pH) and hard at the same time, which corrodes copper and shortens appliance life. Shallow wells can also see bacterial contamination.

Solution

A calcite neutralizer raises pH, a softener removes hardness, and UV disinfection handles bacteria — sequenced to match your water test results.

Not sure what's in your well?

A free in-home water test tells you exactly what you're dealing with — no guessing, no pressure.

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