According to the Environmental Protection Agency, even though the United States has some of the best drinking water globally, homeowners may still notice unpleasant tastes and alarming colors coming out of their faucets. Here’s how to know if there’s something wrong with your tap water.
Cloudy Appearance
Tap water should always look clear. When water comes out of the tap looking cloudy or milky, fill up a glass and wait a few minutes. If the cloudiness fades, the cause was likely a build-up of air in your pipes, and your water is safe to drink.
Magnesium and calcium minerals in your water could contribute to cloudiness while still being safe to drink. If the cloudiness does not fade, your water could be too “hard.” Finally, milky water could be a sign of dirt or another contamination in your pipes.
Metallic Taste
Metallic-tasting water is a common complaint, and the flavor may even come with rust-colored water. The reason for this is simple: there are metal deposits in your tap water. When only your hot water tastes metallic or looks rust-colored, look to your water heater. Try flushing it to see if that solves the problem. If not, you may have rusty or deteriorating pipes.
Metallic Odor
If your water smells metallic, rust or metal deposits are likely the cause. When the smell is another odd odor, though, there are several different reasons. Algae in your water supply can lead to a musty odor, and bacteria in your water heater cause a sulfuric smell. Your water could also have increased amounts of ammonia in it, leading to the distinctive stink of cat urine.
Now that you understand how to know if there’s something wrong with your tap water, you may wonder what your next steps are. In most cases, contacting an expert is the right decision. They can locate the root of the problem and fix it so that you can drink crystal-clear H2O once again.
If your issue is ammonia, you’re in luck. There are a few ways to reduce ammonia levels in your water quickly, so look into those!
