Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Highland Beach

Why the town water is not the usual suspect

Highland Beach draws brackish water from the Floridan Aquifer about 1,200 feet down. The town notes that reverse osmosis does not remove dissolved gases, so its plant uses a degasification system and two air scrubbers to remove unwanted gases, then chlorinates. If the whole town had an odor problem, you would hear about it from neighbors and the town. A smell in one home usually starts in that home.

Narrow it down

The water heater fix

Tank water heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium. In warm, still water, bacteria can react with it and give off hydrogen sulfide. Flushing the tank, changing the rod material or adjusting temperature are the usual fixes, done by a plumber and following the heater maker's guidance so you do not void the warranty.

If your building has a central water heater, the same reaction can happen there, and the fix belongs to the association.

Seasonal residents

Many Highland Beach units sit empty for part of the year. Water sitting in a heater for months gives the reaction time to build. On return, run hot water through each fixture before judging the smell. If it persists, have the heater checked.

When a filter is the answer

A whole-home filter does not stop gas that forms inside your water heater. If the smell is in the cold water too, Jorge tests for it and looks at what the building plumbing is doing. For well water elsewhere, see aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells.

Get it checked

Jorge runs a hot-and-cold check at your tap and tells you plainly if a filter will not help. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

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