What causes a STRONG sulpher smell in town water - on 1 half of a

[Charlie MacPherson]

I was showing a duplex to a buyer client yesterday.  The property has town water.  

On one side (occupied) the water looks and smells normal.

On the other side (vacant for some time), the tap water has a very strong sulpher / rotten egg smell. 

I've never come across this before.  Any idea what the cause might be?

[David Boroughes]

Run the hot water for several minutes to flush out the tank. The water sits in the tank and with the interaction between the elements in the water and the metal in the tank and rod it can give off that sulphur smell. Usually goes away after running the water for awhile