Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Sunrise

Step one: hot only, or hot and cold?

• Hot water only: points to the water heater.
• Both hot and cold, from every tap: points to the water supply, most commonly a well.
• One sink only: often the drain, not the water. Fill a glass and step away from the sink to check.

City water homes: the water heater

The City of Sunrise Utilities Department softens its water and disinfects it with chloramine. A tank water heater contains a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium, that can react with sulfate and bacteria in a warm, low-flow tank and create the smell. Vacation homes and seasonal condos are prone to this because the tank sits unused. Options a plumber may suggest include flushing the tank, replacing the anode with a different alloy, or a powered anode. Removing the anode entirely can void the heater's warranty, so ask your plumber.

When the smell shows up in spring

Sunrise switches temporarily from chloramine to free chlorine each spring (April 27 to May 25 in 2026). Some people notice a stronger chlorine odor during those weeks. That is a different smell from rotten eggs and goes away when the switch ends. If you are unsure, the Utilities Department dispatcher is at (954) 888-6087, ext. 3.

Well water: hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater

Shallow groundwater in South Florida can contain hydrogen sulfide. If your property uses a well for drinking or irrigation, the smell may be in the water itself and often comes with iron. Treatment depends on the level:

• Aeration releases the gas in a tank before the water reaches the house.
• Oxidizing filtration converts sulfide and iron into particles a filter catches.
• Carbon can handle very light odors.

See aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells.

What to test

For a well: hydrogen sulfide, iron, manganese, pH and hardness, plus bacteria at a certified lab. For city water: Jorge checks disinfectant and hardness at a cold tap, then the hot side, to confirm whether the heater is the source before anything is sold.

Fixing it: who does what

• Water heater source: a licensed plumber handles anode changes, flushing and heater replacement. A filter salesperson should tell you that.
• Well source: treatment equipment is configured from the well test; Living Water installs well water systems.
• Utility concern: if the smell is in cold city water at every tap, call the City of Sunrise Utilities Department at (954) 888-6000.

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