Narrow it down
| Where you smell it | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Hot taps only | Water heater and its anode rod |
| Hot and cold, every tap, on a well | Hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater |
| Near sprinklers | Irrigation well or reclaimed water system |
| One drain | The drain or trap, not the water |
The water heater
Tank heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium, to slow corrosion. In warm, still water, bacteria can react with it and release hydrogen sulfide. A plumber can flush the tank or change the rod type; check the heater maker's guidance first so you do not affect the warranty. Because the gas forms inside the heater, a whole-home filter upstream will not stop it.
Seasonal residents who return after months away often notice the strongest smell on the first hot shower. Run each hot tap for a few minutes, then each cold tap, one room at a time. If the smell keeps coming back with normal daily use, ask a plumber to look at the heater and its age.
Why the city water itself rarely smells of sulfur
Seacoast's surficial and Floridan wells feed a plant that uses nanofiltration and low-pressure reverse osmosis. Membrane treatment is designed to separate dissolved substances from the water. If you notice a sulfur smell on cold Seacoast water at every tap, report it to Seacoast at 561-627-2900 so the utility can check, and have Jorge test the hot and cold side to compare.
Private wells
Shallow groundwater in the area can carry hydrogen sulfide. On a private drinking well, treatment is chosen from the well's test and often combines aeration or oxidation with filtration, sometimes alongside iron removal. See well water treatment in Palm Beach Gardens and aeration vs. filtration for sulfur.
Outdoors
Seacoast produces irrigation-quality reclaimed water for use across its service area, and some properties irrigate from private wells. Either source is separate from your drinking water. Odors around sprinklers are a question for whoever manages that irrigation supply, often your community association.
If you are unsure where your sprinkler water comes from, look for a separate pump in the yard or ask your community association.
What Jorge checks
Hot and cold taps, chloramine, pH, iron and TDS, plus the heater's age and use. If the heater is the cause, he tells you, and you may not need water treatment at all. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.sua.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SUACCR2025.pdf
https://www.sua.com/water/
https://www.sua.com/wastewater/
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist