Tap water that smells or tastes off impacts your quality of life daily when you cook, brush your teeth, or drink a glass of water. Identifying the cause of your tap water issues is the first step to finding the right treatment solution. The taste and smell of your water can help you discover why it tastes bad. In this article, you can learn about 8 common tastes and smells in tap water and how to remove them.
Why does my tap water taste bad?
The contaminants present in tap water give it its taste. Without any kind of contamination, water tastes flat and dull, a flavor you are familiar with if you have ever drunk distilled water. The ideal drinking water contains a balance of minerals and total dissolved solids (TDS) content, but the best tasting water varies from person to person. Unwanted minerals, sediment, chemicals, or other elements can give water an undesirable taste. If you are experiencing foul tastes coming from your tap, you can discover the culprit by the water’s characteristics. Read below to learn about the causes of different types of unwanted tastes in water.
Do all contaminants in water have a taste?
No, you will not be able to taste all contaminants in water. Some water filtration systems remove contaminants you can’t smell or taste. Microorganisms like bacteria and viruses can travel through your home and make you and your family sick without even knowing it. Ultraviolet disinfection treats your water by direct contact with ultraviolet rays that remove the microorganisms before they have a chance to make you sick.
Learn more: What is a UV water purifier and how does it work?
Smells can also be a bit elusive. What you think is the smell of your water may be the smell of your drain as water from your faucet flows through. Bad odors could also be caused by leaking, corroded pipes, bacteria in the water heater, or a cracked well. Due to the complexity of these issues, it is often best to consult a water specialist.
In the meantime, the best way to understand the composition of your tap water is to use a home water test kit or a lab water analysis. You can also find an analysis of your community water through a water report made available by your local water supplier.
Learn more: Lab water tests vs at-home water test kits
How to treat bad tasting tap water
The best way to make your tap water taste better is to install a filter or purifier to remove the contaminants that are most likely responsible. Below you will find a brief description of different types of water treatment used in homes. With this knowledge, you can know which type of system you need to eliminate the contaminants that inhibit your tap water’s taste.
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems
An RO system treats water through a multistage process to remove dissolved solids. One stage is reverse osmosis, the process of removing total dissolved solids (TDS) by pushing water through a semipermeable membrane. A sediment filter removes dirt, dust, and rust particles, and a carbon filter reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorine, and other contaminants that can give your water a foul taste or smell. RO systems are the most complete form of filtration for removing harmful minerals, but they also remove beneficial minerals such as calcium or magnesium. RO systems equipped with a remineralization postfilter offer the most pleasing taste.
Learn more: What is a reverse osmosis system and how does it work?
Carbon water filters
Activated carbon filters utilize carbon with a large surface area to attract contaminants as water flows through. Tiny pores along the surface allow for adsorption of chemicals as your water runs over a bed of activated carbon. These filters remove large contaminants like chlorine but are not designed to remove inorganic materials such as heavy metals, minerals, sulfates, or smaller microorganisms.
Read more: Activated carbon filters 101
Ceramic water filters
Ceramic filters operate by filtering water through a hard ceramic casing with tiny holes that make it difficult for contaminants to travel through. Some ceramic filters come with activated carbon inside to allow for a double-step filtration process. These systems are great for removing dirt and bacteria, making them ideal for removing a dirty or fishy taste in water. However, ceramic filters are not useful for removing viruses because the pores of the filter are not small enough to trap the microorganisms.
Learn more: What is a ceramic water filter and how does it work?
Alkaline water filters
Alkaline filters use electrolytes to separate acidic and alkaline components. By adding minerals back to water, these filters raise pH. For some, the mineral taste might make the water taste worse. These filters adjust the pH of your water, which will resolve the problem of sweet tasting water if pH is the cause. Alkaline ionization filters work best in conjunction with other filters.
Learn more: What is alkaline water and is it good for you?
Ultrafiltration systems
Ultrafiltration systems force water through a single hollow fiber membrane that serves as a filter for microorganisms. It removes some bacteria, viruses, and parasites while retaining the potentially beneficial minerals that a reverse osmosis system would remove.
Learn more: How an ultrafiltration membrane works
Ultraviolet purification
UV systems use ultraviolet light to deactivate bacteria and viruses in your water supply but are not intended to remove anything else. That is why UV purification is often used in addition to other filtration systems. UV systems are ideal for homes with well water, but they are also beneficial for city residents that are under a Boil Water Advisory (BWA).
Learn more: How does a UV water purifier work?
How to fix 8 common causes of bad tap water
1. Bitter taste
Bitter tasting tap water is often a result of high concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS). Water with high concentrations of TDS is called hard water. Another reason for bitter tasting water could be the corrosion of aged copper piping in your home.
Solutions:
- A reverse osmosis system
- A ceramic filter
2. Chlorine or chemical taste
City water treatment adds chlorine to disinfect the water supply. If the water needs to travel a greater distance, then additional chlorine is added to compensate. Though the level of chlorine is not harmful, it can affect the taste of your tap water.
Solution: A carbon water filter
Learn more: How to remove chlorine from drinking water
3. Dirty or fishy taste
Well water often has an earthy, mineral taste. For city water, an earthy flavor could be the result of untreated algae not eliminated during treatment. Water with algae remnants is usually musty.
Solutions:
- A reverse osmosis system
- A ceramic filter
4. Gasoline taste
Water that smells of gasoline or diesel has many different sources, none of which are a simple fix. There could be an intrusion into your water by a fuel storage tank or a well absorbing runoff from nearby driveways or parking lots. Because of the potential for hazardous chemicals in your water supply, it is always best to stop use immediately and have your water tested. You should also call your local utility company to see if any pipes have broken recently that could also cause the smell and then consult a licensed plumber.
Solution: Consult a plumber and your local water authority
5. Metallic taste
High levels of dissolved metals like iron, magnesium, and zinc can give your tap water a distinct metallic taste. Though the presence of these metals is not harmful to your health, they can damage water pipes.
Solutions
- A reverse osmosis system
- An Ultrafiltration system
6. Rotten egg smell
Hydrogen sulfide causes a sulfur or rotten egg smell when you first turn on water or use hot water. Common with well water, hydrogen sulfide can increase the speed of corrosion in your pipes.
Solution: A ceramic filter
7. Salty taste
Water that tastes salty is most likely caused by high concentrations of chloride ions. Though common in coastal regions, it can appear in other areas as well. Sulfates can also cause a salty taste in tap water. They are common in soils and are picked up as water flows through the earth to water supplies. Rain and snow can also cause road salt to drain into local reservoirs.
Solution: A reverse osmosis system
8. Sweet taste
Water with a sweet taste could be a result of certain dissolved minerals not harmful to your health, such as calcium or iron. It could also be a sign of pH or alkaline imbalance in your water.
Solutions:
- An alkaline ionization filter (low pH)
- A reverse osmosis system (high pH)
- A ceramic filter
If your water contains a different taste or smell than listed above, let us help you identify the source and offer the right solution for you. Contact our expert water specialists with any questions regarding your home or businesses water concerns.
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