If the overabundance of plastic waste tells us anything, it’s that a lot of people don’t really like the taste of their tap water. There’s a number of things which could keep you from the experience you crave but luckily, they’re all easily fixed. The first step towards that fresh, crystal clear refreshment is understanding the problem.

Understanding the Source Of The Problem

It’s a little known but amazing fact that human’s can’t actually taste pure water. What we detect on our tongues is actually the chemicals which have ‘contaminated’ it. Contamination might seem to be a scary word, but in this case it just means everything which isn’t H2O- trace elements, minerals and other positive things included.

Most cases of bad tasting tap water are perfectly safe, if a bit unpleasant, to drink. Things like chorine or chemicals from municipal treatment, metallic tastes from older pipes or high iron content or a salty taste from hard water won’t damage your health.

That’s not always the case though. If your water tastes ‘earthy’ or ‘musty’, it’s likely being caused by the presence of algae or organic matter and that really could be bad for you.

Testing Your Water

Knowing which of these problems you’re facing is as simple as finding out a little about what is coming out of your faucets. If you have any suspicions whatsoever that your water might not be as good as it could be, getting the info is easy.

Firstly, you can check local water quality reports. These are issued by local authorities and water companies and should let you get some idea of what you can expect from your faucets. However, these reports are only an indicator about general conditions in your area. They don’t tell you about potential problems with your plumbing.

For an even more localized report, you’ll have to test your supply yourself. Home testing kits are cheap, easy to use and will help you identify a range of contaminates, pointing you in the right direction for a solution.

Improving Your Tap Water

When it comes to improving the taste of your water, you’ve got a good number of options. These range from filtering the whole house to simply flavouring your water with something else. Let’s break them down:

Using Filtration Systems

There are a wide range of filtration systems on the market, ranging from counter-top jugs all the way up to whole-home setups. Which is right for you will depend on your budget and the nature of the contamination.

Anything that’s not counter-top level should be installed by an experienced licensed plumber.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon is a great solution to a wide range of problems. The carbon cartridge contained in the filter absorbs chlorine, bad odors and a good range of organic compounds.

They come in a wide variety of configurations: faucet mounted, counter-top or pitcher filters are all widely available. Just make sure you change out the carbon every three to six months to keep it working at its best.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems

Reverse osmosis systems consist of a semi-permeable membrane that allows water through but blocks most contaminates. They’re particularly great for getting rid of heavy metals, nitrates, dissolved salts and bacteria, but they’re generally regarded as the universal solution, thanks to being so effective.

Whole-House Filtration

Many filter systems can be scaled up to cover your whole home. It’s not the cheapest endeavour, but if you’re suffering from persistant water quality problems, it’s certainly very effective.

The filter itself is installed on the water main, close to where it enters your home. This means that everything from that point onwards is filtered, vastly improving the taste.

In-Line Filters

If you don’t want to waste time filtering water which is going to be fed into the appliances rather than drunk, an in-line filter might make more sense. These are connected under your sinks and filter that faucet and that faucet alone.

If your primary concern is taste, these provide a great budget-friendly solution.

Improve the Taste With Additives

While we should certainly all drink more water, there’s no rule saying you can’t mix it up a little. Adding a little flavouring to your water can help to mask minor changes in taste. Lime, cucumber, lemon and mint all work wonders, especially on a hot day. There are a whole line of infusion water bottles on the market for those who want to take it with them too.

Another option is simply chilling your water before you drink it. We all know 3am kitchen water tastes the best and this is because it’s a little bit colder than we get from the tap at other times of the day. Drinking colder liquids slightly numbs your taste buds, reducing your perception of unpleasant tastes.

If you’re suffering from metallic or acidic tasting water, a tiny sprinkle of baking soda might help. This is a strong alkali, so it will reduce the PH of your beverage, neutralising the unpleasant taste. Be careful with it though, you don’t want to go too far and make it go too far the other way.

Address Hard Water Issues

Some areas suffer from what is called ‘hard water’. This water has various mineral impurities in it, though calcium is the most common. It won’t do you any harm (though it does cause plumbing problems) but it might not taste great.

Solutions for hard water involve installing softeners and water conditioners. These treat the water as it flows into the home, filtering out the minerals that create the odd taste.

Regular Maintenance

Sometimes that odd taste is coming from your plumbing itself. Keep up an annual maintenance schedule to avoid the build-up of unpleasant tastes. It’s worth:

● Getting a plumber to flush your pipes

● Cleaning your fixtures to remove sediment build-up in taps

● Changing your filters at least every 6 months.

Additional Tips

Other potential solutions could involve boiling and cooling your water to remove chlorine and other contaminates, distilling or simply using a cooler or dispenser to alter your perception of the taste.

When To Contact a Professional

At the first sign of a really serious issue with your water quality, you should contact the professionals. Discoloration, foul odors and persistent bad tastes can all be signs of serious contamination or failure of your plumbing.

Dealing with a professional plumber or water treatment specialist should ensure that the underlying issue to addressed, keeping your supply healthy and delicious.