Where the smell comes from
| What you notice | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Hot taps only, worse in the morning or after travel | Water heater anode rod |
| Around sprinklers, wet walls | Irrigation well water |
| Hot and cold, every tap, on a well | Hydrogen sulfide in groundwater |
| One sink or shower | The drain, not the water |
The water heater explanation
Tank heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium. In warm, still water, bacteria can react with it and give off hydrogen sulfide. Chloramine in incoming water does not stop this in a tank that sits. A plumber can flush the tank, swap the rod material or adjust temperature, following the heater maker's guidance so the warranty is not affected.
Seasonal residents often notice it most on return, after the heater has sat for months. Run hot water through each fixture before judging.
Why Seacoast water is rarely the cause
Seacoast draws some water from the brackish Floridan aquifer and treats it with reverse osmosis, and nanofilters its shallow aquifer water, then disinfects with chloramine. If a whole street noticed a smell at the same time, that would be a call to Seacoast Customer Service at 561-627-2920. A smell in one home almost always starts in that home.
If your building has a central water heater, the same reaction can happen there, and the fix belongs to the association.
Irrigation wells and canal-side yards
North Palm Beach is a waterfront village with canals and lagoon frontage. Some properties irrigate from shallow wells, and shallow groundwater in the area can carry hydrogen sulfide and iron. That water is untreated; the smell and orange staining it causes are separate from your tap. See orange stains and well water.
If a well is used in the house
Hydrogen sulfide in a drinking or bathing well is treated with methods chosen from the well's test, such as aeration or oxidation followed by filtration. Iron often comes with it. Compare aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells.
What Jorge checks
Hot and cold taps, chloramine, pH and iron, plus the heater's age and how often each bathroom is used. If the heater is the cause, he will tell you, and you may not need a filter at all. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist