In our experience, a combination of oxidation and filtration is one of the most cost-effective and reliable ways to remove sulfur from drinking water. Small amounts of sulfur can be removed from drinking water with a reverse osmosis filter or a granulated activated carbon filter, but neither method is very effective on its own.

The primary strategy is to expose the hydrogen sulfide to oxygen, so it creates a solid sulfur compound that can be easily filtered out of the water. Oxidizing filters that use potassium permanganate are effective, although this chemical is a poison that must be handled and stored carefully. Chlorine is another common oxidizing agent, but it is less effective than hydrogen peroxide, requires longer contact time, and may require and additional filter to remove the excess chlorine.

Another type of sulfur filter uses water aeration to expose the sulfur to oxygen. In this treatment method, water enters the system and is then sprayed as a fine mist into a storage tank. As the water is strayed, any volatile gasses – include hydrogen sulfide – are released. While this can be an effective method of removing many dissolved gasses, including methane, radon, and carbon dioxide, it’s not an efficient sulfur water filter and is not typically recommended.