Contaminated drinking water may not be ascertained by the naked eye at all times. Water from your tap may look crystal clear until you smell and taste it. Normal tap water is tasteless and odorless. However, if your water is contaminated, it may have a strong taste and smell. And while not all changes in the taste, smell and appearance may always indicate health risk, some changes may be more concerning than others; in which case, you need to stop drinking and get it checked by an accredited laboratory.
Water that is supplied by local water utility providers is usually treated with chlorine for disinfection to make it safe to drink; and fluoride for general dental care; and the amount of chlorine used depends on the quality of water sourced in your region. This is the reason why water in certain regions may have stronger chlorine smell and taste than other regions. And while it is generally safe to drink, if you find the smell and taste too strong to take, it is best to contact your local health agency and water utility water provider.
So how do you actually remove the nasty taste in your tap water? First try to find out the nature of the nasty smell or taste of your tap water.
For instance, petroleum or gasoline smell or taste in water is rare and could mean that your water supply may be contaminated by an underground pipe that’s leaking with byproducts of gasoline or other fuel products. Now this definitely poses a health risk. Stop drinking the water and contact your local health agency and local water supplier immediately.
Metallic taste in water like iron or copper could come from traces of metals from which your pipes are made; and consuming too much copper through your water over time could cause headaches, nausea, and diarrhea. Get a sample of your water analyzed by a certified lab to determine the concentration levels.
Tap water that smells or tastes like rotten eggs or sulfur most likely contains hydrogen sulfide; a chemical that is released when a certain kind of bacteria is present in the water system. Water heaters contain an element that protect them from corrosion, which breaks down over time especially when your water heater is not used for a long period of time causing bacteria to thrive. When this happens, a chemical called hydrogen sulfide is released and gives off a nasty rotten egg smell.
Not all unpleasant smell and taste in water come from chemical sources. Some nasty smell and taste may come from bacteria from your water source. Nearby livestock, fish pens, or sewage treatment plants may cause your water to smell like moldy earth, sludge, or smell fishy.
Tap water contaminated with organic matter is usually harmless. Water that has a salty taste is not usually a cause for concern. A salty taste in your water may simply indicate naturally high levels of sodium, magnesium, or potassium in the water in your area especially if you live near the seaside.
Just like smell, the color of your tap water can also tell you the quality of your water supply. As normal tap water is transparent and colorless; if your water suddenly turns a different color, this could mean that your water is contaminated.
Old water pipes are usually made of galvanized iron or steel and tend to rust overtime turning your water to red, orange, or yellow in color with unpleasant metallic taste. Can you imagine drinking rust-flavored water? Likewise, tap water may turn green or blue due to the erosion of your copper plumbing and can cause your water to taste metallic. High and continued concentration of copper in your water supply may lead to copper toxicity and it is imperative to contact your local health agency and water provider if this happens.
After a few hours of water interruption caused by a pipe repair in your area, your water may turn brown or blackish upon turning on your faucet. Just let your faucet flow to flush out sediments of earth and wait until your water has cleared up in color. If your tap water appears milky white or cloudy, fill up a glass and wait for a couple of minutes. If the water at the bottom of the glass starts to clear up first, the cloudiness was caused by trapped air bubbles and the water is not a cause for concern. If, however, after a few minutes, and your water still doesn’t clear up in color, don’t attempt to drink it and contact your local health agency and local water provider.
Even crystal clear water may be contaminated, because there are traces of contaminants that our naked eye cannot see. In the U.S. alone where water is generally considered safe for drinking, millions of Americans still suffer from water-borne diseases every year. Unless, the taste and smell in your tap water is caused by serious problems that poses serious health risks, common nasty taste and smell in your tap may be remedied by a reliable home water filtration system. You can either go for whole-house water filtration systems, bulky under-sink or countertop filters or opt for a reliable faucet filter like SJWave Water Faucet Filter. This cute contraption is an adorable accent to your kitchen that can remove 98% of chlorine smell and taste, traces of metals and other contaminants in your water. And unlike those complicated and bulky filters, SJ Wave Faucet Filter requires no special tools and can be installed in minutes. It gives you nothing less of clean, pure, and healthy water for your family.
You may also check the quality of your water the moment you notice any unusual smell or taste in your tap water and make sure to check the same before and after installing a home water filtration system to check the quality of your water and reliability of your water filter. Check out the SJ Wave website. and find out more about their complete water solutions.
