The glass test
Fill one glass with cold water and one with hot, walk to another room, and smell each one.
- Only hot smells: water heater.
- Neither smells, but the sink does: the drain or a dry trap.
- Both smell, on a well: hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater.
- Both smell, on WASD water: call WASD, then test.
Water heaters in apartments and houses
Tank water heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium, to protect the tank. In warm, still water, some bacteria react with it and give off hydrogen sulfide gas. It shows up most in units that sit unused: a second bathroom, a rental between tenants, or after a vacation. Chloramine in WASD water helps in the pipes but does not always prevent this in a warm tank. A plumber can flush the tank or change the rod type; check the heater manufacturer's guidance first.
In an apartment, the heater may belong to the owner, so report it to them.
Why WASD water is rarely the cause
Hydrogen sulfide is a raw groundwater issue. WASD's report describes air stripping at the Hialeah and John E. Preston plants, which generally serve homes north of SW 8 Street, including Sweetwater, along with softening, filtering and disinfection. If cold water from every tap smells, contact WASD so it can check the line.
Wells and sprinklers
Some properties pump irrigation water from a shallow well, and a few older lots may still use a private well. Untreated groundwater can carry hydrogen sulfide and iron, which shows up as a smell outdoors and orange stains. Treatment is chosen from the well's test, often aeration or oxidation plus filtration. See aeration vs. filtration and wells in Sweetwater.
Before you call anyone
- Run the hot water in a rarely used bathroom for several minutes.
- Pour water into unused floor drains and sink traps.
- Note when the smell appears and which taps.
Get a hot-and-cold test
Jorge tests hot and cold water, chloramine, pH and iron, and looks at the water heater's age and type. If the heater is the cause, he says so, 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