If you have tap water that smells like rotten eggs or tastes bad, you’re not alone. The same is true of cloudy tap water or getting yellow water from your tap. The quality of tap water varies from location to location and can change over time.
This is surprising to many people. We assume that our tap water is closely monitored for quality and consistency and that there are drinking water standards in place to ensure that the water from our tap tastes good and has no odor. However, at the same time, we know from our experience and, sadly, from news reports about serious public water contamination, that the water supplied to a home or business through municipal systems varies widely.
That’s true even though national standards for the water provided by water utilities through our system of water treatment plants are overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and covered in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA). Fortunately, community water systems are required to provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report to their customers. It contains results on tap water testing including details on any contaminants in drinking water that the system provides.
What Is Tap Water?
To understand drinking water quality and safety, you first need to know what tap water is. Tap water is also referred to as running water, faucet water, or municipal water. It is almost universally available in developed countries but not in developing countries.
Tap water in the U.S. is collected locally and treated to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and to decrease contaminant levels. This treatment involves chemicals, which is why water testing can reveal the presence of chlorine in tap water. (Learn about the difference between chlorine and chloride.) It’s also common to find fluoride in tap water.
Because tap water is gathered from local environments where the level of certain minerals varies, it can be “hard” (high in dissolved minerals) or “soft” (lower in dissolved minerals). However, home and business owners can install water systems and filters that are used to adjust how hard or soft their tap water is.
Natural minerals, along with contaminants, can also change the pH level in water, and the pH of tap water can affect its quality. What is the pH of tap water? The answer is that it can vary somewhat from the normal water pH level of 7 based on things like the soil or bedrock near groundwater sources and the presence of carbonate, bicarbonate, or hydroxide compounds.
Causes of Unpleasant Taste, Smell, and Appearance in Tap Water
What can cause my tap water to taste “weird”? Several conditions can cause tap water to taste, smell, or look “off” in some way. In many cases, these characteristics don’t indicate that the water will have a negative impact on human health. For example, a slight smell of chlorine or sulfur may be nothing to worry about. And in some cases, a change in tap water temperature or pressure can cause cloudiness that isn’t harmful.
More concerning is a sudden difference in the taste, smell, or appearance of your drinking water. That can be an indicator of a problem like a damaged water line, issues with your water utility, etc. If you notice a significant change in your tap water, you should be sure to watch for your local health authority to issue a “boil water advisory,” meaning water in your home or business should be boiled to kill any bacteria or parasites it contains.
The Case for Bottled Water
If you have concerns—temporary or ongoing—about the water quality at your home or business, arranging for convenient and cost-effective bottled water delivery is an option.
Bottled water, especially from a safe, healthy source like our artesian springs in Eldorado Springs, Colorado, doesn’t have to pass through often-outdated water utility systems and infrastructure on its way to you. That means you can be confident of its taste, smell, and quality.
In fact, our water was voted Best Tasting Water in the U.S. and second best in the world! You can learn more about our water and set up delivery for your home or business online.
