Clean drinking water is one of the most important and basic necessities in your home and is generally a given for many of us that will always be available.
Tap water can develop a bad taste that might be a problem specific to your house or may be part of a bigger problem but how can you tell? Depending on what your water tastes like and the source, it could be a number of different problems.
Bad tasting water can be an issue specific to your home or might be a bigger problem coming from the local supply. Common issues include high chlorine or mineral content and problems in the pipes including corrosion. Water hardness and excessive salt also effect the taste.
Why does my tap water taste bad?
Water quality can differ by state, region, county and even city. Rumors often abound regarding water quality and water hardness from one area to another. Certainly a water’s chemical composition and levels of minerals like sodium, magnesium and calcium can affect a water’s taste and harshness on your skin and hair. It can also leave a scale on faucets and prematurely wear your clothing, too.
If you suddenly notice your water tastes funny it’s possible that there are one or more underlying causes that may be specific to you or one(s) coming from the local water supply affecting others.
Why does my tap water taste…
Water should be tasteless and clear. If your water tastes funny, it might be due to a number of different reasons. Some common water tastes include:
Metallic
Metals like iron, copper, lead, mercury, arsenic and more can make their way into your drinking water either from old lead pipes and lead solder, from corrosion within the pipes or by accidentally being introduced into the water supply. While iron and copper in small amounts are generally not harmful, other chemicals like lead and mercury are dangerous and suggest a contaminated water supply to some degree. Lead pipes were banned in 1977 but are still common in older houses. More on that below. High levels of mercury can cause kidney problems.
Another chemical sometimes found in water supplies is arsenic which has no taste or smell and occurs naturally in some rock and soil.
If you use a well for your water, regularly get your water tested for various chemicals to ensure nothing bad is seeping into your supply that you may or may not taste or smell. In the case of a well, a metallic taste in your water tends to mean that a chemical like iron is seeping into the system or you have corroded pipes.
Salty
Sodium (salt) makes the water taste salty and it’s a common sign of water that has been bottled from certain mountain springs. Some people like the taste of slightly salty water but if you find that your tap water is overly salty and you have a water softener, check to see if it is connected to the kitchen tap.
Drinking softened water normally isn’t a problem for humans but it’s common for homes to have at least one water source – the kitchen tap – with unsoftened water so that you aren’t drinking water with a higher salt level. If you are on a low sodium diet or need to reduce salt intake, you don’t want to drink softened water that was softened with salt.
Some salt manufacturers like Diamond Crystal explicitly state that softened water shouldn’t be used for pets which is another reason why having at least one hard water source in your home is a good idea.
Hard water contains higher levels of dissolved minerals like magnesium and calcium which are healthy for us whereas softened water counteracts those minerals with the addition of salt. If you’re unsure about your water softener status, take a water sample from your kitchen tap for analysis and contact your water softener supplier to inquire.
Why does my tap water smell like…
Smelly rotten eggs
A sulfur or rotten egg smell is typically a sign of hydrogen sulfide. If the smell comes from your hot water only, it’s likely that the problem is coming from your hot water tank. In this case you may want to empty your water heater and rinse it out unless you have a rental unit in which case you should contact your rental company and let them take care of it. It could be something inside the water heater such as a problem with the anode especially if the tank is 10 years or older.
If the smell seems to comes from both taps, it’s likely that the problem is in the plumbing. Check each tap in the house and see if the problem is emanating from all taps or just one to narrow down the problem. Either way, try draining the faucets that are affected for 5-10 minutes to see if that flushes the smell out. If not consult a plumber.
Chlorine
Chlorine is added to city water in the treatment process so if your water has a chlorine or bleach smell, it’s likely coming from that. Speak with your neighbors to see if they notice the same thing and if so, contact your city or municipal water authority to inquire as to what is wrong. In this case, it’s likely part of a bigger issue because chlorine is generally added to the public water supply and is thus not something you can control yourself.
Musty wood
A must, woody, earthy smell in tap water implies a high level of dissolved solids. After water has been filtered and treated, some dissolved solids may remain that were accumulated from sewage, chemicals, industrial wastewater or other natural sources. It could also come from your pipes leading into your house.
Again, speak with your neighbors to see if they also experience this problem which means it’s likely part of a bigger concern. If it’s just you with this problem, it could be your pipes or some other reason specific to your home and water delivery.
Metallic
As above, a metallic water taste could come from a variety of sources and metals such as iron, copper, lead, mercury, arsenic and more. Iron and copper are usually found in low levels and may discolor the water at worst. Still, no one likes to drink or even look at rusty looking drinking water.
Lead is something to be concerned with and often comes from piping in old houses with outdated water supply infrastructure. Lead exposure can lead to health issues and is more of a problem that iron or copper. Same with chemicals like mercury and arsenic. It’s also possible that your old piping is corroding inside.
If you live in an old house built pre-1986 when using lead solder was banned and when lead pipes and fixtures were common, get your pipes inspected by a certified plumber. Take a water sample to get it tested for lead and other harmful chemicals, too.
While you’re at it, check the paint in your old house especially if it was built anytime up to 1977 because lead-based paint was commonly used in home building.
How is well water different from city water?
Well water is generally considered to taste better because unlike city tap water which has fluoride and chlorine added to it, well water has no added chemicals and comes from deep in the ground.
Depending on the location and the specific source, well water can have various components that alter the taste:
- Calcium tends to make water have a milky, smooth taste. Unsoftened, regular tap water that is high in calcium can also have this trait.
- Magnesium – which is also found in unsoftened water in higher than average levels – often gives water a bitter taste.
- Sodium of course makes water taste somewhat salty. Some bottled water products come from natural springs with slightly higher salt content and you may have a palate that notices and either appreciates or dislikes the taste.
Keep in mind that higher levels of multiple minerals can often mask some of the tastes described above which is why you may not notice it personally.
The different taste of bottled waters
Being a person who generally loathes the idea of “paying” for water and buying bottled water at restaurants, I quickly got used to it after moving to Germany and living there for several years. While free water is normal in North American restaurants, it’s generally paid for in German restaurants.
Over time I noticed two things:
- Different brands of bottled water have different tastes. As mentioned above, the source of the water in question whether tap water or bottled can have an impact on the taste.
- Sparkling water with carbonation tastes pretty good! If you’re trying to cut down on your consumption of sugary and high calorie sodas, consider trying sparkling bottled water. The gas in the water gives you the feeling that you’re drinking soda but without the sugar and calories. It can be an acquired taste but it’s worth a try.
Consider bottled water if you are unable to immediately correct your water tasting issue or if you simply want to try something new. Between still (gas-free) and sparkling (carbonated water with gas) water in bottles, you may be surprised how differently some brands taste! If you are the type of person who notices the taste of water, trying a few bottled water brands is not a bad idea.
How to get tastier drinking water at home
Get your pipes checked
Especially if you live in a old home that may have corroded pipes and may also have lead piping and fittings that should be replaced. Have a licensed plumber take a look at your plumbing and piping to see how old it is and if some of it might need to be replaced.
Check the aerators
The aerators are the small mesh filters that screw on the end of the faucet in your kitchen and bathrooms. They filter out sediment like sand and dirt and while it may not improve the taste of your water, you might be surprised how dirty they are when you clean them.
Water filter
The cheapest and quickest method to actually improve water filtration is to use a home water filter system such as a Brita filter. It may help to filter out hardness, copper, chlorine, lead and other sediment. You may or may not notice a difference in taste though.
A home use water filter is about $20 – $30 plus replacement cartridges.
Fridge water filter and ice maker
Modern fridges come equipped with filtered water and ice maker options and will typically filter out similar chemicals as listed above. Modern water supplies filter much of this out anyways but a charcoal-based filtration system may help to remove other impurities that you can taste.
A typical fridge with filtered water and ice maker generally starts at around $800 and goes up depending on how much you want to spend. Replacement filters are usually in the $25 – $60 range.
Whole home chlorine filter
A solution for the whole home as the name suggests, a whole home chlorine filter is typically installed by the main water line into the home. Its purpose is to remove the chlorine or bleach smell and taste that sometimes occurs in public water systems. Water passes through the carbon filtering and is delivered to the rest of the home in both the hot and cold water supplies. It can be used in conjunction with a water softener.
A whole home chlorine filter system costs around $600 – $4,200 installed depending on the size and capacity among other features.
Reverse osmosis system
A reverse osmosis (RO) system turns regular tap water into filtered, purified water by removing contaminants for cleaner and better-tasting water. An RO system is built into the home and is typically installed under the kitchen sink for use with the kitchen faucet. So it’s not for whole home use but rather for drinking water only unless you choose a more expensive whole house option. RO systems are capable of processing a large amount of drinking water daily. Filters are replaced as needed and systems typically use about 1 gallon of tap water to produce 1 quart of purified water (4 L of water to produce 1 L of purified water).
A reverse osmosis system typically costs around $300 – $700 for an under the sink model whereas a whole house system is much more expensive often in the $1,000 – $3,000 range.
Water softener
A water softener is used when you have hard water which is water that is high in dissolved minerals such as magnesium and calcium. If you find that your water leaves calcium deposits on faucets and your kettle and your hair and skin feels dry after showering, it’s likely you have hard water which is normal in many areas.
Learn more about water softeners by reading my article titled How Much Does A Water Softener Cost?
Iron/manganese filter
Some areas naturally produce iron and manganese which often find their way into the local water supply. The result can be a cloudy, metallic-tasting water along with yellow or black stains on faucets. An iron/manganese filter system may look somewhat like a water softener unit but in this case, its responsibility is to filter out iron and manganese that has entered the water system and is delivered to your home. Modern systems will automatically backwash on a schedule for cleaning purposes so similar to a water softener, waste water is produced by this system.
An iron/manganese filteration system typically costs around $2,000 – $4,000 plus installation. Some water softener systems include iron removal filtration.
Ceramic filtration systems
If you draw your water from a well or have a cottage, camp or other seasonal home, a ceramic filtration system can be used to filter out various contaminants like bacteria, sediment and turbidity that causes cloudiness. More expensive options may also filter out VOCs, chlorine and heavy metals. A ceramic filtering system is typically installed on the cold water pipe underneath your kitchen sink and is capable of filtering around 1 gallon (4 L) per minute. The ceramic cartridge needs to be cleaned regularly but is long-lasting and is typically replaced after around 100 cleanings.
A single point of use (under the kitchen sink) ceramic filtration system will typically cost no more than $200 installed.
Whole house sediment filter
A whole house sediment filter system is another water filtration option commonly used to remove sediment and tannin (discoloration) of water. Some people use a sediment filter when they find that other water-consuming appliances in their home like water heater, washing machine and water-dispensing fridge frequently get clogged. These systems are often used in homes that have water supplied from a lake, well or river where large-size sediment needs to be removed.
A whole home sediment filter system typically costs $700 – $1,600 plus installation. Models may include a UV purifier, salt-free descaler and other features.
Possible fixes for common home water problems
| Problem | Solution |
| Bleach or chlorine flavor and smell | Whole home chlorine filter |
| Smell and taste problem due to sodium and other minerals | Reverse osmosis system |
| Calcium deposits on faucets and kettle. Dry skin and hair. | Water softening system |
| Rotten egg, sulphur smell | Iron/manganese filter |
How popular bottled waters taste
Many brands of water claim to have a unique taste and that might well be true since they all come from different sources and from various parts of the world. Because of this, they each have varying mineral content, different hardness, and come with different levels of carbonation including no carbonation.
Here are some major brands of mineral water and characteristics of each.
Gerolsteiner: There are over 600 brands of bottled water in Germany so it’s difficult to stand out. Germany’s number one bottled water, Gerolsteiner is an artesian water that comes from the Vulkaneifel (Volcanic Eifel) region of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is a naturally hard water with a high mineral content and slight acidic orientation. It comes in Still, Light and Classic form with varying levels of carbonation.
FIJI: As the name suggests, the water comes from the Fiji Islands and is filtered through volcanic rock. FIJI states that their water has a soft smooth taste due to the minerals and electrolytes picked up during the filtering process. FIJI water is Still, low in minerals, has alkaline orientation, with moderate hardness.
San Pellegrino: San Pellegrino is high in minerals, has a hint of sweetness, is very hard and comes in Classic form with carbonation. Popular in restaurants in North America and around the world, it originates from Italy.
Mountain Valley: An American spring water available in both Still and Classic, Mountain Valley is low in minerals, with a hint of sweetness and is very hard.
Evian: A Still spring water from France, Evian has medium levels of minerals, a neutral orientation and is very hard. A very popular and trendy brand often found in restaurants and fitness centers.
Summary
- If you are experiencing bad tasting and/or smelling water, speak with your neighbors to see if they are experiencing the same problem and if so contact your municipality’s water office to get an answer.
- Bad tasting and bad smelling water may be a local problem specific to you that you can correct or may be part of a bigger problem from the water supplier ie. your municipality, your water well.
- Even if you have good drinking water, consider bottled water if you enjoy it as you might be surprised at how various-sourced products taste.
- While softened water is generally safe to drink, it’s preferable that tap water is unsoftened especially if you are on a low sodium diet.
- While home-filtering water can remove impurities you may also find that it removes some of the things that give water its taste, too.
- When drinking water, 59° F (15° C) is a good temperature to actually taste water. When it’s too cold, water lacks some of its flavor.
