Well homes: hydrogen sulfide
Private wells pull Biscayne Aquifer groundwater with no treatment. Some carry hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs even at low levels and often comes with iron. In Palmetto Bay, where some streets are still being connected to county mains and many lots irrigate from wells, this is a frequent complaint. Treatment depends on strength and on what else is in the water; common approaches include aeration and oxidizing filtration, chosen from the test. See aeration vs. filtration.
County water homes: the water heater
WASD treats its water before delivery, so a rotten-egg smell from a WASD tap usually starts inside the house. Tank water heaters contain a sacrificial anode rod; in warm, still water, bacteria can interact with it and produce hydrogen sulfide. It is most noticeable after a trip or in a rarely used guest bath. A plumber or the heater's manufacturer can advise on flushing or a different anode. A filter on the main line will not fix it.
Quick checks
| What you notice | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| All taps, hot and cold, home on a well | Hydrogen sulfide in the well water |
| Hot side only, home on WASD | Water heater anode reaction |
| Sprinklers and outdoor air only | Irrigation well water |
| One drain only | The drain itself |
| Pool or bleach smell | WASD chloramine or the annual free chlorine weeks |
Septic odors are different
With thousands of septic lots in the village, some sewer-type odors come from a drain field or a dry trap, not from the water. If the smell is in the yard or from a floor drain rather than from water coming out of a faucet, a plumber or septic professional is the right call. Jorge will tell you if the water itself is not the source.
Do not confuse it with chlorine weeks
WASD switches from chloramine to free chlorine for about two weeks each fall; in 2026, September 28 through October 11. That smells like a pool, not eggs. See chloramine filters in Palmetto Bay.
Get it identified
Jorge checks hot and cold, the well if you have one, and the sprinkler water, then explains the cause and the fix, whether that is a plumber, a well system or nothing. See well water in Palmetto Bay. Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/news-item.page?Mduid_news=news1753893105003591
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/environment/documents/vulnerability-septic-systems-sea-level-rise.pdf
https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/4898
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist