Smelly tap water often arrives without warning. A lingering scent affects your hygiene routine, how much you drink, and whether you want to hand a guest a glass of water. Fortunately, most odors can be traced to a specific cause and treated.
Start by Locating the Source
Before anything else, work out whether the smell comes from one fixture or all of them. A foul smell at a single tap usually points to an isolated problem. The same odor at every fixture in the house points to something affecting the whole supply, and needs a more comprehensive solution.
Common Smells and What They Mean
- Sulfur or rotten eggs: Can indicate bacteria growth, iron, or hydrogen sulfide gas. Iron typically comes from the water supply itself, whether well or city. Bacteria can grow in many places, from drains to water heaters.
- Chemical or bleach: Usually chlorine. Treatment plants add it to kill bacteria and pathogens. On well water, your own treatment process may contribute a chemical smell.
- Musty or earthy: Northern Nevada has one of the driest climates in the country, but we still get rain. During wetter months, or when river flow changes, the Truckee River can carry organic compounds like algae and decaying vegetation into the system.
- Sewage: Often leftover food or soap in a sink drain rather than the water itself. It can also come from water sitting unused in a water heater long enough for bacteria to grow, or from a damaged sewer line.
- Metallic or rusty: Reno’s water carries naturally high levels of iron and manganese. Those minerals interacting with corroded pipes produce a rusty or metallic smell.
Reno’s water generally meets EPA standards and is regularly tested by local utilities. But if you notice a significant change in smell, get it tested rather than waiting to see if it passes.
How to Fix Smelly Water
Sulfur
A sudden sulfur smell may indicate hydrogen sulfide gas, which makes water unpleasant to drink and isn’t recommended for consumption. Start by flushing your plumbing — run all faucets for a few minutes to clear the gas.
If the smell is only in hot water, the water heater is the likely culprit. A professional can replace the magnesium anode rod, which cuts hydrogen sulfide production at the source. An iron filter can also treat the whole supply.
Chemical
Chlorine is common on municipal supplies because it is a proven disinfectant, but its taste and odor make water unpleasant to drink and cook with, and it dries out hair and skin during bathing.
A carbon filtration system addresses this. Carbon adsorbs chlorine along with other contaminants, and you can install it either under the sink or as a whole-house system.
Musty
Determine whether the smell is at all faucets or one. If it’s isolated, you may have a plumbing problem — check for leaks and water damage, and repair them to prevent mold or bacteria growth. Clean and disinfect the fixture with equal parts water and vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide, scrub thoroughly, and flush with clean water.
If it’s system-wide, a whole-house filter or point-of-use filter will remove the organic compounds causing it.
Sewage
This one is worth taking seriously. Contact your local water utility or a professional to have the water tested for coliform bacteria before assuming it’s a drain issue.
If the problem persists after testing, activated carbon filtration can remove the bacteria and odors causing it.
Metallic
Flush the plumbing system by running each faucet for several minutes to clear sediment and rust buildup. If pipes are visibly corroded or damaged, replacing them is the real fix. Softeners and conditioners will remove the iron, manganese, and other minerals producing the smell.
Get It Tested
It can be difficult to pin down the cause of smelly water without help. Our experts can run a free water test to determine the source of the odor and whether your water contains high levels of iron, bacteria, or chlorine. Schedule a free water test.