Overview
- About: There are many reasons why your water may look, taste, or smell "off". Many of the culprits are not considered hazardous and are categorized as Secondary Standards by the USEPA, which covers certain unregulated, aesthetic contaminants. However, a change in water aesthetics could indicate a more serious problem, such as contamination with chlorine disinfectants, copper, and certain petroleum products.
- Treatment Options: Activated Carbon, Ozone, POU/POE water treatment devices certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 42 – Drinking Water Treatment Units – Aesthetic Effects
- Resources: WQA Technical Factsheet: Taste and Odor [Link]
USEPA Quick Reference List of Noticeable Problems [Link]
Note: Many serious problems (bacteria, heavy metals, nitrates, radon, and many chemicals) can only be found by laboratory testing of water.
- Visible
- Scale or scum from calcium or magnesium salts in water
- Unclear/turbid water from dirt, clay salts, silt or rust in water
- Green stains on sinks or faucets caused by high acidity
- Brown-red stains on sinks, dishwasher, or clothes in wash points to dissolved iron in water
- Cloudy water that clears upon standing may have air bubbles from poorly working pump or problem with filters.
- Tastes
- Salty or brackish taste from high sodium content in water
- Alkali/soapy taste from dissolved alkaline minerals in water
- Metallic taste from acidity or high iron content in water
- Chemical taste from industrial chemicals or pesticides
- Smell
- A rotten egg odor can be from dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas or certain bacteria in your water. If the smell only comes with hot water it is likely from a part in your hot water heater.
- A detergent odor and water that foams when drawn could be seepage from septic tanks into your ground water well.
- A gasoline or oil smell indicates fuel oil or gasoline likely seeping from a tank into the water supply
- Methane gas or musty/earthy smell from decaying organic matter in water
- Chlorine smell from excessive chlorination
Note: Many serious problems (bacteria, heavy metals, nitrates, radon, and many chemicals) can only be found by laboratory testing of water.
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