Why Does My Tap Water Taste Metallic and What Causes Weird Smell?
It is not one of the common problems which most people face. But sometimes, when you drink water, it tastes and smells like metal. You may be wondering what causes and why my water smell or tastes like metal.
If you are curious to know, let’s read this detailed post to answer all your queries. Besides the reasons for the metal like the smell and taste of water, we also explained how you could get rid of this issue using some proven working methods.
What Causes Water to Smell and Taste Metallic?
According to a US study, there are 316 contaminants found in the tap water of most areas. Specifically, determining which contaminant causes water to taste and smell metallic is a critical issue.
There may be different reasons leading to the root cause of this issue, but some common reasons are discussed in detail below. Keep reading to learn more!
1. A High amount of Copper and Other Metals in Water
The first and most possible prediction is that your water may contain a high amount of copper and other metals, which combine with copper and result in different substances.
Sometimes Manganese, lead, zinc, and iron in your water also lead your city or well water to taste and smell like metal.
If these contaminants are available in high proportions in your water, they need to be removed. You can also check our guides to remove iron and lead from water.
2. Water Pipes are Made of Metal and Are too Old
If your pipes are made up of iron, lead, or any other metal, then this is one of the potential reasons why water smells or tastes like rust and metal.
Another reason is that your water pipes are too old that they get rust due to iron metal on it, and therefore need replacement. Pipes that are made from copper, brass, or galvanized steel last around 80 to 100 years.
3. Bad Chemicals used to Wash Pipes
One more reason which is needed to be mentioned here is the chemicals which are used to wash pipes.
These chemicals attract iron pipes toward themselves and cause chlorine, iron, and other elements to keep on the pipes’ inner and outer surfaces.
The ultimate results lead the water to smell, and the affected water (which reaches your tap by passing through these pipes) has a metallic taste or smell.
According to a scientific study, if tap water has low pH contamination, it’s another possible reason for smelling and tasting water like any metal.
So, above we’ve discussed some of the common and potential reasons why your water taste and smells like metal.
Why Does My Well Water Taste Like Metal?
Do you ever take a sip of water from the tap and then make a face because it tastes like iron? If your well water smell or tastes metallic, there are a few possible explanations.
- First, it could be that your well water source is actually high in mineral content, such as iron or manganese. While these minerals are not harmful to human health, they can give the water an unpleasant taste.
- Second, your well water supplies might have come into contact with lead pipes or solder. This is more serious because lead can be highly toxic and not recommended for drinking and cooking water.
- Third, the problem could be with your home’s plumbing system. If the pipes are old or corroded, they cause the metal to leech into your water.
Why Does My Bottled Water Taste Metallic?
When you drink water, you expect it to taste clean and refreshing. But sometimes, your bottled water can taste or smell like metal. There are a few possible reasons for this;
- One reason could be that bottled water came from a well or municipal water supply that had high levels of minerals in it. If the water sits in metal pipes or is stored in metal containers, it can pick up a metallic water taste.
- Another possibility is that there was a problem with the bottling process, and metal contaminants got into the water. This is more likely to happen with cheaper brands of bottled water that don’t have as much quality control.
If your bottled water tastes like metal, you may not want to drink it. However, in most cases, it’s not harmful and won’t make you sick.
Just make sure to know where your bottled water comes from. You can check the label on the bottle for this information.
Moreover, you can also use the bottled water cost calculator to compute the consumption amount.
Now below we would be discussing what are the effects of iron-affected water and what are the possible solutions and ways by which you can get rid of this low water quality problem.
Potential Health Risks of Metallic Taste Water
Drinking and using metallic water may lead to different health issues in humans. It may cause diarrhea, coughing, liver, and kidney diseases.
Furthermore, it’s the biggest reason to cause corrosion in your teeth and lessens the shine of your teeth. So, if you ask whether metallic or bitter taste water is terrible for you, the answer is 100% yes.
Besides leading to health issues in humans, this water also reduces the warranty time of all the goods and household elements that you wash with water having any metals in it.
How to Get Rid Of the Metallic Taste and Smell In Tap Water?
The first thing is to test your water and check the metal proportions by going to a water testing laboratory.
You can also check our guide on how to test well water. There are several other ways but using a professional and authentic way is the best approach as it is a matter of your health.
If your water has more contamination of metals besides lead, then it’s not a problematic issue.
But if there is lead in more proportion, then you must get rid of it to get a fresh glass of water that is safe to drink.
Now, let us know some ways to get rid of this issue in the article further.
1. Replacing Metallic Pipes
The first and foremost thing is to replace your old metal pipes.
If you are using them at your home or any other place where water is used for drinking purposes, you must change them for the better taste of your water.
Although most of the lines are available in metals, some metals have no health issues; ask a professional for advice and replace your old water pipework.
2. Check If All Taps and Faucets Have the Same Issues
Check all taps at your home and see if all the fixtures have the same metal taste and smell in the water or not. If there is only one or two, then there is an issue with your tap and faucets.
In this case, replace that tap and faucet with the newest one. Check out our reviews for the best bathroom faucets for hard water.
3. Increasing Water pH Level
If your water’s pH is low making it more acidic, which is lower than the acceptable ranges of 6.5 to 8.5, you must use some ways to increase it.
You can add chemicals and substances in water with the highest pH concentration, like soda ash or sodium bicarbonates or their ions.
Increasing Hydrogen ion concentration in water is the main aim.
You can do it by using any chemicals or substances that can increase hydrogen ion concentration in water and makes it neutral (pH level of 7) or within the normal ranges.
Low pH levels or acidic water can cause the copper plumbing to leech metals in your water over time.
Moreover, if you have galvanized plumbing, you can get zinc as a byproduct that also gives water a bitter taste or smell.
4. Install a Water Filter
Using some water systems, including ion exchange filters or reverse osmosis filters, you can quickly get rid of this issue. It takes less time but is somehow a bit expensive.
Furthermore, it works for a long time. Iron filtration systems are also highly recommended to remove the metallic taste and smell from the water.
Moreover, you can also consider whole house filters for well water if well water treatment is your major concern.
Also Check: Best Whole House Water Filters
Here all water moves through a membrane that helps pass only wanted particles into the tap and leaves behind the unwanted particles as waste material.
Remember to always use high-quality water filter cartridges for your filter systems.
If you’re facing a hard water issue, you can also consider installing a water softener.
Final Verdict
Hopefully, now you have a detailed answer to the question as to why the filtered water taste and smells like metal and how you can get rid of this issue.
Metallic-tasting tap water is often caused by the presence of minerals such as iron, copper, or zinc. These minerals can come from corroded pipes, old plumbing fixtures, or natural deposits in the water source.
It is important to investigate the cause of metallic-tasting or strange-smelling tap water to ensure it is safe for consumption.
Consulting with a water treatment professional can help to address any concerns or health issues due to the bad quality of water as it’s a severe problem that needs to be solved.
