Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Miami Beach

The two-minute check

1. Fill a glass with cold water, step away from the sink and smell it.
2. Do the same with hot water only.
3. Smell the drain itself without running water.

• Smell only in hot water: water heater.
• Smell at the drain, not in the glass: drain bacteria or a dry trap.
• Smell in both hot and cold glasses: test the water and check for any well connection.

Water heaters in condos and seasonal homes

Most tank water heaters contain a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium, that corrodes to protect the tank. Under some conditions bacteria in the warm tank turn that reaction into hydrogen sulfide gas. It tends to show up when hot water sits unused, a familiar pattern in Miami Beach second homes and units left empty for part of the year.

Fixes a plumber or water heater technician may suggest: flushing the tank, running hot water through after a long absence, or swapping the anode for a different alloy. Do not remove the anode without professional advice.

Drains and dry traps

Guest bathrooms and rarely used sinks can let their drain traps dry out, which allows sewer gas to come up. Run water in every drain regularly, especially after you have been away. If the smell is at one drain only, it is likely a plumbing issue, not a water-treatment one.

What about the city water?

The City of Miami Beach buys water from the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD), mainly from the Hialeah and John E. Preston plants, both of which use air stripping. The water is chloramine-disinfected and sampled by both WASD and the city. During WASD's periodic switch to free chlorine you may smell chlorine, a pool smell, which is different from rotten eggs.

Wells and sulfur

If a property uses a well for irrigation or any household use, hydrogen sulfide in groundwater can cause a sulfur smell, sometimes noticeable when sprinklers run. Well water treatment is configured from a test. Compare aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells and see well water on Miami Beach.

Get it checked

During a free in-home test, Jorge compares hot and cold water and checks disinfectant and iron. If the cause is the heater or a drain, he will tell you; no treatment system needed. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

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