Where you notice it
| Where | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Hot water only | Water heater and anode rod |
| One sink | Drain or trap |
| Sprinklers and wet walls | Irrigation well |
| Every tap on a well | Hydrogen sulfide in groundwater |
A quick 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 DOH's well-water fact sheet notes that 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, in a guest bath or a home left empty for a while, makes it worse.
The Village's report lists draining the water heater according to the manufacturer's instructions as one of its tips for maintaining water quality at home. A plumber can also flush the tank or change the rod type; check the warranty first.
If you have recently replaced a heater, or a guest bathroom sits unused for weeks, run those taps for several minutes before testing. If the smell clears and stays gone, stagnant water was the cause.
Wells and irrigation
The Village's own wells draw from the surficial aquifer, but that water is treated before it reaches you. A private well on your property pumps similar groundwater with no treatment, and hydrogen sulfide can occur naturally. The DOH also notes that if the smell appears only in softened water, sulfur bacteria in the softener may be the cause. See well water in Palm Springs and aeration vs. filtration.
During the Village's chlorine-only period
When the Village switches to chlorine only for pipe cleaning, some customers notice a stronger chlorine smell. That is different from rotten eggs. If the smell is chlorine-like and temporary, check the Village's notices; it is scheduled maintenance.
When a filter helps
- Drain odor: clean the trap.
- Heater odor: maintain or fix the heater.
- Well odor: a well system configured from the test, often aeration or oxidation plus filtration.
Testing first saves money: a drain trap or a heater flush costs far less than equipment, and Jorge will say when that is the fix.
What Jorge checks
Hot and cold at several taps, total chlorine, pH and iron, and the heater's age. If no equipment is needed, he says so. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.vpsfl.org/DocumentCenter/View/7351/2025-Water-Quality-Report
https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/well-water-facts-odor-staining.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist