Why Does My Tap Water Taste Funny?
Have you noticed that something seems a bit “off” about the taste of your tap water? Here’s a quick overview of what the root problem could be. Many of these issues can be resolved with the use of high-quality water filtration in Scottsdale, AZ.
Water that tastes moldy or musty
When you’re looking for a cool, refreshing glass of water, the last thing you want is to take a swig of water that tastes moldy or musty. One of the most common causes of this taste is algal blooms in your source water. This will be particularly common in the springtime. The algae will have been killed off long before it reaches your home, but some of the musty taste may remain.
There’s also a chance you have bacteria growing somewhere in your water system. If you smell rotten eggs, this is a sign that the issue could be problematic. Otherwise, iron-related bacteria could be the cause, and you’re not going to need to worry about that as much.
Water that smells like bleach
If you notice a bleach-like smell emanating from your water, there’s a good chance this is a sign of elevated chlorine content in the water. Chlorine is used in the vast majority of municipal water systems around the United States as a disinfectant. Small amounts of chlorine are harmless, but elevated levels can be harmful. Keep in mind that just because you can smell the chlorine does not necessarily mean it is at an elevated level—the chlorine smell is noticeable well below the standard limit of 4 mg/L.
You can resolve this issue by using an activated carbon filter (faucet or pitcher style), chilling your water in the refrigerator or boiling the water before drinking it.
Water that tastes metallic
If you’ve noticed a metallic aftertaste in your drinking water, this could mean you have elevated levels of iron, zinc or manganese. In general, you don’t need to worry about the safety of water containing these minerals, but it could be inconvenient in terms of the taste and the potential corrosion it could cause to your plumbing. If you have metallic-tasting water, you may consider using filtration or other methods to reduce the amount of those particles.
Water that tastes salty
Salty water is likely a result of a high concentration of chloride ions. Common causes include seawater getting into your local water supply (this is only an issue in certain parts of the country, obviously), industrial waste getting into the water supply or melting snow and rain carrying road salt into your water supply.
Certain types of water softeners installed in your system may also result in a salty taste, as the water softening process has the side effect of adding more sodium into the water to replace the calcium it removes.
For more information about the various root issues that could be associated with weird tastes in your water, contact WES Water today. We’d be glad to discuss your options for water filtration in Scottsdale, AZ.
Categorised in: Water Purification System