Everyday life

Why can the hot water smell different?

A hot tap can reveal a connection to geothermal energy.

Some hot water in Reykjavík has an egg-like smell associated with hydrogen sulfide. The Icelandic Meteorological Office notes this odour in local hot water and some geothermal areas.

The capital’s hot-water supply does not have a single origin. Veitur describes geothermal wells and groundwater heated at geothermal power plants; the supply can also be switched during operation. The experience can therefore vary between places.

An everyday smell can point to heat beneath the ground.