yeah what goose said. but you did that so I guess your stuck with stanky water.
I soaked mine element thingy in "the works" toilet bowl cleaner before its got hydrocloric acid in it. finally went and bought one and read they have to be swapped out every year.
Is it supplied by your water heater? if so I believe they have an anode or cathode rod in them that breaks down eventually and needs to be replaced, not sure maybe that what it is.
ahh screw it all just get a water softener. I need to get one in Milford cause of the high calcium/lime/whatever content all over my dishes and I pay for city water! mmm nothing like payin for it twice.