Does your family rely on bottled water?
Water in its pristine state is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. But sometimes the water in our homes has an unpleasant taste or smell. In fact, this is the primary reason people turn to disposable bottles of water, which are expensive for you and harmful to the environment. Millions of barrels of oil are used each year to produce disposable bottles, and billions of plastic bottles end up in our landfills.
If your water tastes or smells strange, you owe it to yourself to find out why, so you can enjoy your water again.
If your water has an earthy or musty taste and odor …
These symptoms are generally the result of compounds released due to decayed vegetation and are typically associated with different forms of algae. They are most prevalent in supplies that use surface water. While not necessarily a health concern, they are nonetheless unpleasant and can be offensive at very low concentrations.
Does it have an unpleasant “rotten egg” smell?
Another common source of odor in water is hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless corrosive gas that has the characteristic odor of rotten eggs. Its most commonly found in groundwater supplies and often is noticed coming from hot water tanks. It can occur naturally from deep in the ground or can be produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria. It can affect the taste of food and beverages, making them unpalatable and if present in high enough concentrations, it can leave an unpleasant odor on hair and clothing. It can also accelerate corrosion of metal parts in appliances. Because it is a gas, testing for it usually has to be performed onsite.
What about a metallic taste?
As the name implies, a metallic taste to your water indicates the presence of metals such as iron, copper, manganese or zinc. Iron and manganese are often naturally occurring in groundwater. Copper and zinc can come from an aging water distribution system or the corrosion of copper plumbing and brass fittings.
Many of the objectionable water contaminants that lead people to purchase water in disposable bottles can be addressed with readily available water treatment equipment. When people treat their source water appropriately, they often find that they prefer the water in their home to the bottled water they were accustomed to buying. Treated water is often higher quality, less expensive, and much more convenient than bottled water.