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Well Water Smells Like Gas or Fuel: What to Do Now

Updated November 1, 2026 · General information, not medical or plumbing advice

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What to do, in order

1. Stop using the water to drink and cook. Wisconsin's DNR says to stop drinking it until it is tested. The CDC says to use bottled water until you know it is safe.
2. Do not rely on boiling or a bleach treatment. The CDC says water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals will not be made safe by boiling or disinfection. Washington's health department calls petroleum, gasoline, fuel or solvent odors rare but potentially serious, says not to use the water, and says a leaking underground storage tank may be contaminating your supply.
3. Call your local health department. The CDC says to do this if your water smells like fuel or chemicals, or if you live where fuel, pesticide or other chemical releases are likely.
4. Think about sources. Wisconsin's DNR asks: is there a gasoline station, or was there a spill, nearby? Did the problem start suddenly? Maryland's Oil Control Program points to petroleum storage or use on your property or a neighbor's, such as heating oil.
5. Get a certified lab test. Wisconsin's DNR says to send a sample to a certified lab to test for gasoline and VOCs, specifically gasoline-range organics (GRO) or petroleum VOCs. Maryland says to ask for VOCs by EPA Method 524.2, and TPH-DRO by EPA Method 8015 if heating oil is or has been used. Your health department can tell you which labs they accept.
6. Report positive results. Maryland says its Oil Control Program wants to hear about any detection of petroleum compounds in drinking water. Elsewhere, ask your health department who to tell.

If it smells like natural gas or propane

Wisconsin's DNR table for a natural gas or propane smell lists two possible causes. The first is a leaking propane tank. The table calls this very unlikely but says to rule it out first. It asks whether you are filling the tank more often than expected and whether you can smell gas when the water is off. It says to have the tank checked by a professional and to call the gas company immediately. The second is sulfur bacteria. The table says these are a nuisance, not a threat to human health at the levels produced in wells. It says to rule out gasoline first. For a rotten-egg smell, see sulfur smell in well water.

Fixing it for good

Treatment depends on the lab result. Wisconsin's DNR lists a water treatment device that can remove the level of contaminant you have, or deepening the well casing or drilling a new well. It says treatment devices must be installed by licensed plumbers (or in some cases by the owner of a single family private home) and that well work needs a licensed well driller. Those are Wisconsin's rules, so check your own state's. Do not buy a filter before you have a lab report. Wisconsin notes that some state funds may apply if drinking water standards are exceeded and eligibility is met.

Common questions

Why does my well water smell like gas?

Wisconsin's DNR lists a nearby gasoline station or spill as something to check, and asks whether the problem started suddenly. For a natural gas or propane smell, it lists a leaking propane tank (very unlikely, but rule out first) and sulfur bacteria. Only a lab test can confirm what is in the water.

Is it safe to drink well water that smells like gasoline?

Wisconsin's DNR says that if you can smell gasoline, it is probably present above health standards and you should stop drinking the water until it is tested.

Will boiling the water fix it?

No. The CDC says water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals will not be made safe by boiling or disinfection, and to use bottled water until you know it is safe.

What test should I ask for?

Wisconsin's DNR says to send a sample to a lab certified in your state and test for gasoline-range organics or petroleum VOCs. Maryland's Oil Control Program says to ask the lab for VOCs by EPA Method 524.2, and also for TPH-DRO by EPA Method 8015 if heating oil is or has been used at the property. Ask your local health department which lab and test they want.

Who do I call?

The CDC says to contact your local health department if your water smells like fuel or chemicals. For a smell of gas that you can also notice when the water is off, the Wisconsin DNR table says to call the gas company immediately.

Related guides

• Well water testing: what, when and how often
• Rotten-egg smell in well water
• What's wrong with my well water? (checker)
• Well water white or milky