You Can Improve Bad Tasting Tap Water

There are people hypersensitive to the taste, smell, and flavors in tap water while others have no reaction whatsoever. Many people who have reactions to tap water will choose to purchase bottled water and be done with it. If you have issues with your tap water, there are solutions.

We are going to give you some insight into your tap water. No matter where you live, each area has its own tastes, flavors, and odors that are unique to the area. The good news, the majority of these conditions can be fixed by choosing the right water treatment system.

Tap water varies from one location to another and some people think it's the secret ingredient in foods such as New York bagels or pizza! That said, bad-tasting water will have people running out to buy filters to get rid of the flavors in their water. Some of these flavors include copper, dirt, and bleach. There are many reasons why water might have a bad taste but the majority can be corrected with the right choices of water treatment systems.

Whether you live in an apartment or a home, chances are your water is connected to the municipal water supply which is usually treated with chlorine in order to remove contaminants. Even though this process makes your water safe, it often leaves an order in the water. This taste and odor are not particularly strong but those who are sensitive to chlorine will pick up the taste and smell more strongly than others. Although you cannot totally eliminate chlorine, it is possible to minimize the effects so you will not be bothered by the taste and odor.

There are several carbon-based filters you can use to get rid of the chlorine from your water. If you prefer, you can choose to let your water sit, uncovered, before consuming it. It will evaporate some of the chlorine.

Copper in water is usually caused by corrosion of copper plumbing which will lead to tastes, according to the South Caroline Department of Health and environmental control or SCDHEC. You can taste copper at levels of 1.3 milligrams per liter and in some cases can turn light hair a greenish color. Also, if you have a fish aquarium, you should not use this water. The effects are usually stomach cramps and intestinal discomfort above 60 mg/L.

This taste can result from a higher level of total dissolved solids (TDS), which are dissolved minerals in the water. TDS will cause a medicinal taste if they are mostly sulfates including sodium sulfate (Glauber's salt) and magnesium sulfate known as Epsom's salt. These salts can cause a laxative effect especially for people who are not used to drinking this water. Elevated levels of zinc can lead to vomiting, and nausea but only at levels well above those that can cause people to taste the mineral. Many experts said they have never heard of anyone getting sick from zinc in drinking water.

All three can cause a metallic taste in water. The presence of zinc is usually due to the corrosion of galvanized plumbing while iron and manganese happen naturally in water sources. Water that has both iron and manganese might notice a darker color in tea and coffee. They can also cause a stain on plumbing fixtures, appliances, and laundry. These minerals can build up in water heaters which you will have to drain regularly to prevent deposits. That said, even though they leave a taste, none of these elements should cause any health issues, according to SCDHEC.

If animals fall into open water supplies it may cause a taste but usually an odor, according to Southern Water. Southern Water is a company located in West Sussex, England. If the taste or order continues, it should be addressed. Should you smell gasoline, it could indicate dangerous contamination from nearby fuel sources and should be reported.

Unwanted tastes such as earthy, swampy, sulfuric, chlorine, or metallic may be present. Usually, these tastes originate from algae, bacteria, disinfectants, decaying vegetation, and even wildfires. For the most part, these elements are not generally dangerous to your health.

The best solution for improving tap water taste is installing a filter or purifier to remove contaminants that cause most of these issues. Below, you will find descriptions of our recommended systems to help you make the right decision.

A reverse osmosis system filters water uses a multistage process to remove total dissolved solids. This process removes total dissolved solids (TDS) by pushing water through a semipermeable membrane. The sediment filter removes dirt, rust, and dust particles while the carbon filter reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along with chlorine and other contaminants that give your water a bad taste or odor. RO systems are considered the most complete form of filtration for removing harmful minerals but will also remove beneficial minerals including calcium or magnesium.

Activated carbon filters are carbon that has been activated to create a large surface area. Tiny pores along with surface areas allow for the absorption of chemicals as your water flows over a bed of activated carbon. These filters remove large contaminants such as chlorine but are not designed to remove inorganic material including heavy metals, minerals, and sulfates, or small microorganisms.

This filter is designed to separate acidic and alkaline components using electrolytes. By adding minerals back into the water, it can raise the pH level. The mineral taste might make the water taste worse for some people. The filter adjusts the pH level which will help the taste of your water if the pH is the cause. The Alkaline Water Filer works best with other filters.

The Ultrafiltration System forces water through a single hollow filter membrane which serves as a filter for microorganisms. It will remove some bacterial viruses and parasites while keeping the beneficial minerals that a reverse osmosis system will remove.