Water is undoubtedly the most crucial element in our life. However, it is not always clean and free of pollutants and contaminants. As in this industrial world, the water has become highly polluted.
There is a solution to free the water from contaminants via filters. But what if your water tastes metallic? Is there any filter for that?
In this article, we will discuss the reason and the solution because the water tastes like metal. Before digging much deeper into the topic, we should know a few things that will help us understand it much better.
Why Does My Water Taste Like Metal?
If the water tastes metallic, it could be due to low ph or higher presence of minerals, most probably because of rusty pipes or residential. Most often, the metal pipes are the reason your water tastes like metal, and it is time they need to be replaced.
It is essential to check in with your local community, or your water is checked only to make sure that lead is not the reason your water tastes like metal. The metallic water also tastes salty due to the higher presence of minerals.
Trace metals like Iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium are some of water’s most common contaminants, making water taste like metal.
Let’s discuss them in detail below:
1. The House is Old, So It’s Water Fittings!
If you live in a house that is older or made in 1900, you must check your house’s pipes. The main problem is corrosion and seepage if you depend on well water. Ensure you are maintaining the well and checking the water quality.
2. The Low ph of Water
Another fundamental reason to have a Metallic taste in the water is low pH or low potential hydrogen levels. The hydration levels generally measure the alkalinity and acidity of water.
When the water is very acidic or has a low pH, the problem is with the hydrogen content in the water. This type of water is generally referred to as “soft water,” which gives a sour or Metallic taste.
The pH level test kit is one of the easiest ways to test the water at home. It does not need any professional help. If you don’t have access to the test kit, you can find local water testing labs through the EPA website. Enter your residential details, and they will be there to help you.
Also Read:- 6 Common Water Softener Problems (+ How to Fix Them)
3. The Chemicals Added by the Municipality Department
The municipality department adds several chemicals before supplying water to your home. The most used chemicals are sodium silicofluoride, liquefied chlorine, fluorosilicic acid, calcium hydroxide, and Aluminium Sulphate.
When these chemical mixes with the contents of the pipe (the material of the pipe ), it can result in a metallic taste.
4. No Use of Taps/Pipes for a Long Time
The most common reason is people have not used the taps for several hours or months. In such a situation, when they open the tap water, the initial water taste is metallic because of rusting or any other reason.
In this case, after a specific time, the Metallic taste will go as it was due to the no-usage of taps for an extended period.
The most common signs of inadequate water are spots on the dishes, chlorine smell, cloudy water, staining in sinks and tubs, high water and electric bills, a segment on faucets, and sour taste and odor.
Solutions and Fixes for Metallic Taste in Water
Before coming to a conclusion and making a decision, ensure that you have identified or located the tap. If the problem is with the residential pipes, you can replace them. In such a situation, only one or two faucets will suffer from the Metallic taste problem.
It will not happen with the other faucets. If the problem is with the municipality or the rusticity, there will be a Metallic taste in water from all the taps. So, always check the purification process of the municipality department.
The municipality department adds chlorine to the main water supply, but it is not harmful to humans. Most of the time, people are sensitive to the smell and taste of chlorine.
But it is normal to have a minute amount of chlorine added to your water by the municipality department. Don’t worry; the municipality department continuously checks the chlorine content and does not add it to excess amounts.
Apart from the municipality department, you should always check the plumbing system. If the plumbing system is older, it will add toxic elements to the water supply.
Such contaminants can be harmful to your health, which is why you must keep a regular check on these contaminants. The local water supplier can be contacted if you believe there is any problem with the water pipes at your home.
Does Metallic Water Harm the Body?
If the water tastes and smells like metal, it does not necessarily mean it will harm your body. But your health might be at risk if a lead pipeline is used for the water supply. In the past, most plumbing pipes were made of lead. Over time, people realised that lead is a toxic material. Water from a lead pipe is dangerous, especially for pregnant women and young children.
What Should the Water Taste Like and Why?
Water can stimulate humans’ “sour” taste receptor cells. Water tastes sour because even though it has a pH value of 7, it leans more towards the acidic spectrum.
If you ask someone what water tastes like, they’d probably tell you that it tastes like nothing. They are not that far off. Due to the water’s neutral pH value, it generally has no taste or smell.
However, the taste can vary depending on its trace minerals, chemicals and other contaminants. You might have noticed that even though you can’t generally tell what the water tastes, it tastes different when taken from a new source.
Tap, spring, well, distilled, and sparkling water has distinct tastes. What kind of water you like the most relies entirely on your taste preferences.
Although, your drinking habits might get affected by its taste. This happens primarily due to our survival instincts. Specific tastes and smells in food mean it’s spoiled or poisonous, so our natural response is to have less of it.
Can I Do Anything to Reduce the Metallic Taste in the Water Before Consuming it?
Flavours and other additives can be added to reduce the metallic taste in water. Here’s what you can do:
Add Vitamin C
Even doctors recommend popping an iron pill with vitamin C because it can help the body absorb this metal. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons can significantly improve the taste of metallic water and make it fresh.
Infuse
You can infuse water by adding pieces of herbs and fruits in it and then leaving it overnight. The taste and nutrients of your ingredients get infused with the water this way. Infused water is also known to be good for your health. We recommend mint and basil.
Flavored Ice Cubes
You can make flavored ice cubes home by freezing fruit juice in ice cube molds. To make the ice cubes look pretty, you can put lemon slices, mint leaves and small flowers in the cubes before freezing. This way, your water will not only taste fresh but look fresh as well.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Is Metallic taste similar to sour or bitter taste?
The Metallic taste generally refers to a taste that has the flavor of metals like Iron in water. Sometimes people may find a sour or bitter taste in the water, but it may be similar to the Metallic taste. To overcome this issue, we will always recommend you take the initiative and start working on finding the solutions to your problem. These solutions are discussed in detail throughout this article.
What to do if the taste of the water is still metallic even after using a whole-house water filter?
The whole house water filter is not the only solution to avoid the Metallic taste of the water. Sometimes the problem is with the municipality supply, which is why it is essential to know about their purification process.
It also becomes necessary to understand that the Metallic taste in the water can highly impact the everyday life of a human being. Due to this, it is essential to find a solution as soon as possible. There are several licensed plumbers, and the municipality department will help you to overcome this issue.
I am only dependent on well water, but still, it tastes like metals. What may be the real reason behind this?
Even if you are not using city water or are not using pipes that supply the water to every tap at home, you may still suffer from the metallic water issue. In the case of wells, you are the only person responsible for running the periodic maintenance test to check the water quality.
The municipality department contains city water, but it is not the same in the case of the well water. The metallic taste does not have anything related to the pollution in city water. Well, water can easily get polluted if you live nearby an industrial area or a substantial agricultural land.
The well’s walls quickly get rusted and result in a metallic taste. So it is entirely baseless to think that well water will not have a rusty or Metallic taste.
Conclusion
In the end, the Metallic taste of water can be due to several issues like low pH, rusty and old pipes, the action of several contaminants, and so forth. It is significant to solve this issue because consuming this type of water can impact an individual’s life.
It may result in heartburn, acidic reflux, and indigestion. To solve this issue, you should check every tap of the house and pipe in your home and locate it properly. You should also know about the purification process used by your local municipality department.
We hope this article will help you gain knowledge and that you have found the appropriate solution for your Metallic taste problem.
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