Why Does My Tampa Tap Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

The question is, will a rotten egg smell, be harmful to my health and home. It can be. 

Hydrogen sulfide, that rotten egg odor is a product of sulfur bacteria in groundwater using iron and sulfur as energy to chemically change sulfates to gas, which is flammable and poisonous at high concentrations. 

The EPA standards for water fall into two categories: Primary and Secondary standards.

Primary standards are based on health considerations and secondary are based on taste, color, odor, corrosively, foaming, and staining properties. Sulfate is classified under secondary standards.

Sources for sulfates include decay, organic matter, or chemical reactions with sulfur-containing minerals in soil and rock.

Naturally Occurring – Sulfates are a result of naturally occurring elements of sulfur and oxygen in some soil and rock formations that contain groundwater.

Nearby Industries – Oil & Gas, Fracking, Mining – Hydrogen sulfide can be in wells drilled in shale or sandstone, or near coal and peat deposits, or oil fields.

Community Hazards – Nearby landfills, leaky fuel tanks or pipelines, old septic systems, and chemical labs.

Electric Water Heater – The magnesium corrosion control rod can chemically reduce naturally occurring sulfates to hydrogen sulfide. See more below.

Aside from the smell and taste being an issue, water containing an excess in sulfur can cause issues with several household items, infrastructure, and daily tasks:

Sulfur can erode household appliances, fixtures, and pipes made of copper, brass, iron and steel, leading to shorter lifespans for these household items.

Sulfur may cause black and brown staining of household fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. Sulfur can also stain laundry.

If sulfur is present in your water, it can cause tarnishing and discoloration to silver, copper, and brass silverware.

Sulfur is known to give drinking water a metallic taste which can also be noticeable when the water is used for cooking.

When hydrogen sulfide is present in water, it can produce a smell that is commonly compared to ‘rotten eggs.’ The smell can make the water unpleasant for everyday tasks such as cleaning, bathing, cooking, and consuming.

Your first order of business is to find the source — in your drain, or in your water. Take a glass of water from the drain area the smell is originating from and take a glass of water from another faucet in your home.

If both glasses of water contain a rotten egg smell, the problem is your water, which could come from several other issues – water heater, well, or municipal. If only one glass has the unpleasant odor, it is most likely that specific drain.

If the smell is present only when running cold water, it is likely due to sulfate-reducing bacteria. These bacteria in your pipes consume sulfate and produce hydrogen sulfide, which causes the odor.

If the smell occurs only with hot water, the water heater is probably to blame. When the anode in the tank starts to deteriorate, it can release a sulfur-like or rotten egg smell into the hot water.

If the smell is noticeable regardless of the water temperature, the issue is with your water source. Whether your water comes from a well or a municipal supply, hydrogen sulfide is entering your home.

Find the specific drain and pour ½ cup of bleach down the drain to disinfect it. If you are weary of pouring bleach into your drain system, or do not have bleach on hand, dump ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar in your drain. This should be sufficient to disinfect that specific drainpipe.

Hot Water Heater Troubleshooting – If the issue is from hot water only, the likely culprit is the anode rod in your electric water heater chemically reacting with the natural sulfate ions. This rod is typically made of magnesium. Replace this with an aluminum rod.

You can operate your water heater without the rod, though you risk corrosion of your steel water tank after you remove one. Culligan can add FDA-approved corrosion inhibitors to help correct this potential problem and can also remove the sulfate by using a de-alkalizer.

Sulfur-reducing bacteria could be lurking in your water tank without the rod. One way to test for this is to set your water temperature over 140° Fahrenheit for 48 hours to kill the bacteria. If the odor goes away, this was likely the problem. If it does not, it is likely a rod issue.

If the issue is not the rod, you can disinfect and flush the water heater with a chlorine bleach solution to kill the bacteria. This method is quick and simple, however, if any bacteria lingers behind, it can cause the bad smell to return within weeks.

If the contamination is located at the actual source of your drinking water, get a water analysis. This test should include a pH analysis, iron, manganese, hardness and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids).

There are a few options to rid your home of smelly water and prevent it from returning.

How do you know which system is best for you? Schedule a free water analysis with our water experts. Our team will be able to determine any issues your water may be facing and suggest the best product(s) for your needs.