Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Key Biscayne

Find where the smell is

Fill a glass, step away from the sink and smell again. Drain odors often fool people.

Why the water heater

Tank water heaters use a sacrificial anode rod. In some water, and especially when hot water sits unused, it can produce a sulfur smell. That fits island patterns: seasonal owners and vacation rentals often leave heaters idle for weeks. A plumber can flush the heater, check the anode and replace it with a different type if needed. Follow the manufacturer's guidance.

Condo towers

Some buildings have central hot water; others put a heater in each unit. If neighbors on your stack have the same hot-water smell, tell building management. If it is only your unit, your heater is the place to start.

Wells and irrigation

The Village master plan describes the whole village as served by WASD, so drinking wells are not part of the normal picture here. If your property has a private irrigation source, a sulfur smell at the sprinklers is a separate question; see well water on Key Biscayne and aeration vs. filtration for sulfur.

Seasonal homes and rentals

Key Biscayne has many seasonal residents and short-stay rentals, and that pattern makes heater smells more common. When a tank water heater sits for weeks with no hot water drawn, the water inside goes stagnant and any reaction with the anode rod has time to build. The first shower after a trip is when people notice it.

• Before leaving, ask a plumber about turning the heater to vacation mode or off, per the manufacturer.
• On return, run each hot tap for several minutes before showering.
• If the smell persists after flushing, have the anode inspected.
• If you have an under-sink RO, flush it too after a long absence.

Write down what you notice: hot or cold, which taps, how long it lasts. That short log helps Jorge, or a plumber, find the cause in one visit instead of several.

What to test

• Hot vs. cold smell comparison.
• Chlorine residual at the tap.
• Water heater age and last flush date.

Jorge tests at your tap for free and helps you sort out heater, plumbing or supply. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. For anything that looks like a supply problem, WASD's 24-hour line is 305-274-9272.

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