Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Tamarac

Start with the hot and cold test

Florida's Department of Health suggests checking which faucets smell:

• Hot only: the problem is likely in the water heater.
• Both, but only on water that passed through a softener: likely sulfur bacteria in the softener.
• Strong at first, then fades: likely bacteria in the well or plumbing.
• Strong and steady: likely hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater feeding a well.

On Tamarac city water: the water heater

City water in Tamarac is treated and disinfected with chloramine, so a rotten-egg smell from the hot side usually starts inside the heater. A magnesium anode rod, especially in a heater that sits unused for weeks, can react and create the smell. This is common in seasonal homes when owners return after summer.

Fixes a plumber may suggest: flushing the tank, raising the temperature for a period, or replacing the anode with a different type. Follow the heater manufacturer's guidance.

A brief stronger smell is different

A chlorine or pool-like smell is not sulfur. In 2026 Tamarac switched temporarily to free chlorination for plant maintenance, through August 22, and warned residents they might notice a change in taste or odor. That kind of smell points to disinfectant, which a chloramine filter addresses.

Irrigation and private wells

Sprinklers that draw from a shallow well, lake or canal can smell like sulfur because that water is untreated. That does not affect your tap. If your home has a private drinking well, the smell may be hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater. See well water treatment in Tamarac.

Treatment options by cause

• Water heater: heater service; no filter needed.
• Well with hydrogen sulfide: aeration or oxidation followed by filtration, configured from the well's test. Compare approaches in aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells.
• Bacteria in the well or plumbing: well disinfection first, then retest.

What Jorge checks

Jorge tests hot and cold taps, the well if you have one, and asks how long the water sat. Then he tells you whether it is a plumbing issue or a water treatment issue. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

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