Sulfur in Clearwater, Largo, Port Richey, and St. Petersburg Water – What’s That Rotten Egg Smell?

Sulfur may appear in water throughout the areas of Clearwater, Largo, Port Richey, and St. Petersburg, Florida. The most important question is, will drinking water with a rotten egg smell, which indicates the presence of sulfates, harm my health? The short answer is typically no. But it can still be a problem for those in the northern area of the Gulf Coast.

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

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

Hydrogen sulfide, a product of sulfur bacteria in groundwater using iron and sulfur as energy to chemically change sulfates to gas. It is flammable and poisonous. But it is not usually a health risk at typical house water concentrations, unless extremely high.

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 ground water.

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, chemical labs.

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

The appearance of sulfur in the tap water of Floridians is a common issue. But, is there sulfur in your local tap water? Let’s take a closer look at four northern areas of the Gulf Coast to understand how and where sulfur might show up in your home’s water supply.

Clearwater’s primary water source is the Floridan Aquifer, supplemented by water from Pinellas County Utilities. The city’s 2023 Water Quality Report indicates that the water meets all state and federal standards, with no specific mention of hydrogen sulfide or sulfur-related issues. However, since the Floridan Aquifer naturally contains hydrogen sulfide, residents may occasionally notice the scent of rotten eggs, especially if water has been stagnant in pipes or water heaters.

St. Petersburg blends groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer, treated surface water, and desalinated seawater to source their water. Given the use of the Floridan Aquifer, there is potential for hydrogen sulfide presence. While specific sulfur levels are not detailed in the available reports, residents have reported the rotten egg smell in water, which can be attributed to hydrogen sulfide or sulfur bacteria. ​

Largo’s water is sourced from the Lake Seminole watershed, which has been assessed by the EPA as being in “Impaired” or “Unknown” condition for all 22 water sources. This report does not specifically mention sulfur. However, the impaired status suggests potential for various water quality issues, including sulfur compounds. ​

New Port Richey sources its water from the Floridan Aquifer. The 2023 Water Quality Report for New Port Richey notes that the water is treated for hydrogen sulfide removal through aeration. This indicates the presence of sulfur compounds in the raw water.  ​

Aside from the smell and taste being an issue, water containing an excess in sulfur can cause issues with a number of household items and infrastructure:

Your first order of business is to find the source — in your drain, or in your water. Take a glass of water from your 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 a number of other issues – water heater, well or municipal. If only one glass has the unpleasant odor, it is most likely that specific drain.

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. Though, if the odor sticks around, 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).

A Culligan Softener-Cleer Plus, Sulfur-Cleer Plus, or Iron-Cleer filter, chlorine or hydrogen oxide chemical feed and carbon filtration are all options, depending on the results of testing.

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.