Where the smell is tells you the source
| Where you notice it | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Hot water only | Water heater and anode rod |
| One sink, hot and cold | Drain or trap, not the water |
| Sprinklers and wet walls | Irrigation well |
| Every tap on a private well | Hydrogen sulfide in groundwater |
A simple check: fill a glass, step away from the sink, and smell it. If the odor is gone, it was the drain.
The water heater
Tank heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium. The Florida Department of Health's well-water fact sheet notes that chemical reactions inside water heaters can produce the smell, and that it is often stronger on hot faucets because heat releases the gas. Water that sits, for example while a seasonal home is empty, gives the reaction time to build.
A plumber can flush the tank or change the rod type; check the heater's warranty first. Running the hot water for a few minutes often clears it temporarily.
Irrigation wells in Lake Park
Some Lake Park properties water their lawns from private wells rather than Seacoast water. That groundwater gets no treatment and can carry sulfur and iron, so you smell it near sprinklers and see orange marks on walls and walks. It does not affect your indoor tap. See orange stains in Lake Park.
Private drinking wells
Hydrogen sulfide in a drinking well is treated with equipment chosen from the well's test, such as aeration or oxidation plus filtration. If the smell appears only in softened water, the DOH sheet points to bacteria in the softener. Compare aeration vs. filtration and see well water treatment.
Seasonal homes and long absences
Lake Park has plenty of seasonal owners and rental units, and the rotten-egg complaint often shows up when someone returns after weeks away. Water that has sat in a warm tank and in unused pipes loses its disinfectant residual and gives the anode reaction time to build. Before testing, run each hot and cold tap for several minutes. If the smell clears and does not return, the cause was stagnant water. If it returns every time the heater sits, the heater is the place to start.
What Jorge checks
Hot and cold at several taps, chloramine, pH and iron, plus the water heater's age. If the heater is the cause, he will tell you, and you may not need any filter. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/well-water-facts-odor-staining.pdf
https://www.sua.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SUACCR2025.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist