How to Get Rid of Pond Odor

After the cooler months in the beginning of the year, Floridians are eager to get back to their favorite aquatic activities in the spring and early summer. There aren’t many things that can get between people and the water at this time, but that overpowering sulfurous smell is certainly one of them. It is hard to enjoy boating, tubing, and swimming when the pond reeks of rotten eggs. Take control of your situation by learning what causes pond odor so that you can get rid of the putrid stench for good.

Causes of Pond Odor

Water doesn’t naturally have a smell, so when you can’t help but hold your nose when you walk past your pond, you know that there’s something out of balance. If pond stench is a problem for you, one of the following things is likely to blame.

• Stagnant Water

  If your pond water isn’t circulating, oxygen levels will begin to plummet. Without sufficient oxygen, aerobic bacteria can’t break up waste from animals and plants at the bottom of ponds, leaving the job to anaerobic bacteria. These organisms give off CO2 and hydrogen sulfide, which is the characteristic rotten egg smell.

• Algae Bloom

  When algae growth gets out of control, blankets of algae prevent the water from becoming oxygenated. This is a problem when the algae begin to die off, because bacteria don’t have enough oxygen to eat away the waste, and the smell can be horrible.

• Pond Muck

  It is normal for ponds and lakes to have sludge or muck on the bottom, but too much can become a problem. Muck is the collection of organic waste from the pond, and as you can imagine, it doesn’t smell pleasant. When it builds up too much in shallow areas of the pond, you will notice a swampy, sewage odor.

Pond Odor Solutions

The good news is that, though there are a few different causes of pond odor, the solution is rather simple: your pond needs better circulation and aeration. The key to fixing a smelly pond is oftentimes getting it more oxygen. This means you need to get the pond water flowing around and cycling from top to bottom, or you need to provide more sources of oxygen. Fountains and aeration systems can provide your body of water with the oxygen it needs to support a healthy balance of plant and animal life. When all the organisms in the pond get sufficient oxygen, your pond shouldn’t have a nasty smell.

Central Florida Aquatic Services

Sorko Services can get to the bottom of your pond’s odor problem and get you back on the water. Whether you want to install a fountain or aeration system in your pond, or your lake needs aquatic herbicide treatments for a harmful algae bloom, our technicians can get the job done. To learn more about our services, please give us a call at 407-878-4492.