Do this first
| What you notice | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Smell on hot water only | Water heater anode rod or bacteria in the tank |
| Smell at one sink, hot and cold | The drain; smell a glass of water away from the sink |
| Smell on every tap, hot and cold, on a private well | Hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater |
| Smell on every tap, on city water | Unusual; call the city's Public Utilities line at (561) 822-2210 |
Why surface water changes the picture
In many South Florida cities, the raw water is groundwater, which can carry hydrogen sulfide naturally before treatment. West Palm Beach is different. According to the city, its water begins as rain in Grassy Waters Preserve, flows down the M-Canal to Lake Mangonia and Clear Lake, and is treated at the plant with lime softening, filtration, UV and chloramine. With an open-water source and treatment that includes a powdered activated carbon basin for taste and odor compounds, a sulfur smell in a city-water home almost always starts inside the house.
Do not confuse it with the summer chlorine switch. For 21 days each year, the city uses free chlorine instead of chloramine and says residents may notice a chlorine odor. That smells like a pool, not eggs.
The water heater fix
The Minnesota Department of Health explains that a water heater's magnesium anode can help convert sulfate into hydrogen sulfide, and that warm, idle tanks can host sulfur bacteria. Options, best handled by a plumber or following the heater manufacturer's guidance:
- Flush and disinfect the tank.
- Replace the magnesium anode with an aluminum or powered anode.
- Avoid simply removing the anode; that can shorten tank life and affect the warranty.
Snowbirds who leave a heater idle for months often come back to this exact smell.
Private wells in the area
Homes on wells, typically outside the city's service area, have no plant removing gases. Treatment depends on the level:
- Carbon filtration for light odor.
- Oxidation and filtration for moderate levels.
- Aeration for heavier levels; see aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells.
The system is configured from the well's test, often together with iron and hardness. See well water in West Palm Beach.
What a filter will and will not do
A whole-home filter sits before the water heater, so it cannot stop a smell that forms inside the heater. Jorge will tell you that instead of selling you equipment that will not help. On a well, the right treatment does help, because the gas is in the water before it reaches the house.
Get it diagnosed
At the free in-home test, Jorge checks hot and cold taps, tests the water, and helps you pin down the source. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.wpb.org/files/assets/city/v/2/public-utilities/documents/water-quality-reports/2025westpalmbeach-webreport.pdf
https://www.wpb.org/Departments/Public-Utilities/UV-System-and-Water-Plant
https://www.wpb.org/Departments/Public-Utilities/Annual-Required-Disinfection-Process
https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/waterquality/hydrosulfide.html
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist