Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Start with hot vs. cold

• Hot water only: most likely the water heater. The Florida Department of Health's well water fact sheet says the same: if the smell is only from the hot tap, the problem is likely in the water heater.
• Hot and cold, only from treated water: look at any softener or filter in the house.
• Hot and cold, constant: on a well, the groundwater itself may carry hydrogen sulfide.

Seasonal homes and the water heater

Many homes and condos in town sit empty for months. Pompano Beach's water FAQ explains that a funny smell may come from a home being vacant and the water in the water heater going bad from the anode. Run the hot water for several minutes after you return. If the smell keeps coming back, a plumber can check or replace the anode rod or flush the heater. Treatment equipment is not the fix for a water heater problem.

Why it is rarely the city water itself

Fort Lauderdale's report says its water is aerated during treatment, which removes dissolved gases, and Pompano Beach softens and filters its water before disinfection. Both deliver chloraminated water. A sulfur smell on both taps in a city-water home is unusual; tell your utility, and have Jorge test.

If you have a well

Some properties use a well for irrigation. Sprinklers fed by a sulfur well can smell when they run, even though your tap is city water. If a well supplies the house, treatment depends on the test: aeration, oxidation or carbon are common approaches. See aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells and well water treatment.

What to test

• Smell at hot and cold taps separately.
• Chlorine residual, to confirm you are on treated city water.
• On a well: hydrogen sulfide, iron, pH, and bacteria by a certified lab.

Get help

Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Jorge will tell you if the fix is a plumber, not a filter.

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