Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Boca Raton

The 30-second check

1. Run cold water at the kitchen sink. Smell it.
2. Run hot water at the same sink. Smell it.
3. Try another faucet, and the outdoor hose bib if you have one.

• Hot only: almost always the water heater.
• Hot and cold, every tap: more likely the water supply itself, which on Boca city water would be unusual and worth a call to the utility.
• One sink only: often the drain, not the water. Smell the water in a glass away from the sink.

Why a water heater makes the smell

Tank water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium, that protects the tank from corrosion. The Minnesota Department of Health explains that the anode can drive a reaction that converts sulfate in the water into hydrogen sulfide gas, and that the warm tank can also support sulfur bacteria. Heaters that sit unused for weeks, such as in a seasonal home, are classic candidates, so a smelly hot tap after a summer away is a familiar story in South Florida.

Common fixes, done by a plumber or per the manufacturer's instructions:

• Flushing and disinfecting the tank.
• Replacing the magnesium anode with a different type, such as aluminum or a powered anode. Removing it entirely can shorten tank life and may affect the warranty, so check first.

A whole-home filter is not the fix for a water heater smell. Jorge will tell you that rather than sell you one.

What the city does about hydrogen sulfide

The City of Boca Raton's 2025 water report explains that at its membrane softening plant, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are removed with degasifying technology after the membranes. That is a good sign the issue exists in raw groundwater and is handled at the plant, which is why a city-water home with a sulfur smell on cold water too is the exception, not the rule. If it happens, call the city's Utility Services emergency line at 561-338-7339 or general inquiries at 561-338-7300.

On a private well

Some properties around Boca Raton use private wells for irrigation and sometimes for the house. Groundwater can carry hydrogen sulfide naturally, and there is no plant degasifying it for you. Options depend on the amount:

• Aeration, which lets the gas escape before the water is used.
• Oxidation and filtration systems configured from the well's test.
• Carbon, for light odor.

See aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells and well water treatment in Boca Raton.

What to test

• Hot vs. cold odor, at more than one tap.
• On a well: hydrogen sulfide, iron, pH and hardness, plus a certified lab test for bacteria, which the Florida Department of Health recommends yearly for private wells.
• On city water: chlorine residual, to rule out anything unusual in the supply.

Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. He will help you narrow down the source at the free in-home test.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist