Start with the hot-and-cold faucet test
The Florida Department of Health suggests a simple check: smell the water from the hot faucet and the cold faucet separately. Heat makes hydrogen sulfide gas escape, so the smell is often stronger on the hot side.
| What you notice | Most likely source |
|---|---|
| Smell only from hot water | The water heater |
| Smell in hot and cold, but only in water that passes through a softener | Sulfur bacteria in the softener |
| Strong when first turned on, fades as water runs | Sulfur bacteria in the well or plumbing |
| Strong and steady in hot and cold water | Hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater feeding a well |
Write down what you notice before Jorge visits. It saves time and points the test in the right direction.
Why this happens on Doral city water
Doral's tap water comes from Miami-Dade WASD, which pumps it from the Biscayne Aquifer and treats it at the Hialeah and John E. Preston plants, the plants WASD says generally serve areas north of SW 8 Street. The water leaves the plant disinfected with chloramine, so a sulfur smell at your tap usually starts inside the house.
The most common place is the tank water heater. Most tanks have a sacrificial anode rod that protects the tank from corrosion. When sulfur bacteria interact with that rod, they can produce hydrogen sulfide gas, and the smell comes out with the hot water. The Department of Health notes that chemical reactions inside water heaters can play a role. Water that sits for a while, such as in a vacation condo or a unit that was empty for weeks, can make it more noticeable.
If your property uses a well
Most Doral homes are on WASD water, but some properties use a well for irrigation or other purposes. Well water skips utility treatment. The Department of Health says hydrogen sulfide can occur in wells anywhere in Florida, from natural groundwater conditions or sulfur bacteria in the well. A sulfur smell on sprinkler days, or yellow-orange staining on walls near the sprinkler heads, are clues that the irrigation well is involved. See well water treatment in Doral and orange and rust stains in Doral.
Treatment options, matched to the cause
- Water heater source: this is usually a plumbing fix, not a filter. A licensed plumber or the heater manufacturer can advise on flushing the tank or changing the anode type. A whole-home filter will not solve odor created inside the heater.
- Softener source: the softener may need cleaning and sanitizing according to its manufacturer.
- Well source: common approaches include aeration, oxidation followed by filtration, and activated carbon, depending on the level found. Compare them in aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells.
- City water with a chemical smell instead: a bleach or pool-like odor is different. That is the chloramine disinfectant, which a chlorine and chloramine filter addresses.
What Jorge tests during a free visit
Jorge asks where and when you notice the smell, checks hot and cold taps, and tests your water at home. On city water he looks at the disinfectant level and other basics to rule out the supply. On a well he looks at the factors that decide which treatment fits, such as iron and pH, and tells you when a certified lab test makes sense. The Department of Health recommends testing private wells for bacteria at least once a year, separately from any odor treatment.
If the answer is "call a plumber about your water heater," he will tell you that. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/well-water-facts-odor-staining.pdf
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist