Your Water Has A Weird Taste? Here’s How To Ensure It’s Drinkable
Tap water might have a different flavour, fragrance, or appearance from the bland, translucent liquid you’re used to. Not all changes in tap water’s flavor, smell, or appearance imply a health danger, although some are more worrying than others. If this is the case, you should stop drinking tap water and have it tested by a specialist. Here are a few pointers to assist you to make sure your water is safe to drink.
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Total Dissolved Solids
Total dissolved solids, or TDS, is a measurement of how much extra material is present in the water. A TDS meter is important since it is a low-cost method of determining the baseline level of your water. These are available for roughly $15 on the internet and may be used several times. Simply turn it on and dip the tip into the water to be tested. If the number is as low as feasible, that is better. Distilled water is completely free. Anything over that, up to a hundred, is considered OK, but anything above that is referred to as hard water. Anything above 400 should be avoided at all costs. That’s a very large amount of extra particles.
Water Softeners
A water softener treats hard water by eliminating the minerals that cause it using an ion-exchange process. The resin within the system traps mineral ions that cause hardness and damage to your property and exchanges them for sodium and potassium ions. On the other hand, salt-free water softeners do not remove hard water minerals, but rather, they chemically change the magnesium and calcium such that they don’t stick to surfaces and create scale. A water softener might be a lifesaver for families suffering from the effects of hard water.
Ask the Water Company for the Information
The EPA requires your water supplier to provide you with an annual report on the quality of your water. If you get a bill in the mail, you’ll almost certainly get this report as well. If you’ve converted to e-billing to save a few trees, you’ll have to do a bit more searching online to find it. The EPA offers a map to assist you to locate the report from your local water utility, and the CDC has a guide to help you comprehend all of the information.
Testing Strips
Immerse the strip in the water you’re testing completely. Swirl it for a few seconds before removing it to see how the color swatches change based on the concentration of specific ingredients. Because each type of water reacts differently, it’s crucial to test it with the water you’re drinking. If something stands out, you may invest in a more advanced testing kit, which, while more costly and only single-use, is more accurate and can help you diagnose particular water problems. This kit is used to evaluate PH, total alkalinity, copper, nitrate, nitrite, bacteria, and lead.
Boiling Water
Boiling water for various purposes is a simple procedure that is commonly misunderstood. There are only two things you need to do. To ensure that all bacteria and hazardous organisms are properly eliminated, the bubbles must continuously roll and tumble over one other throughout the whole pot. Second, before beginning your timer, ensure that the water is continually rolling. You only need to wait two minutes after it starts rolling before your water is ready. Wait for it to cool before having your first drink now that it’s clean.
Water Purifier
A good water purifier pitcher may solve your problem while also saving you time and energy by cleaning your drinking water. These modern pitchers may make your life simpler by alleviating the load of water purification and ensuring that you are always hydrated. This gadget should make its way into your kitchen as quickly as possible because the benefits are enormous, and the safety of your loved ones is nearly guaranteed.
Strange Smells in the Water
Chlorine-smelling or tasting tap water is typically not a reason for worry. The scent is most likely from the treatment process since tap water is treated with chlorine to make it clean and safe to drink. It’s recommended to call your local health office if the chlorine smell or taste is severe.
It’s unusual to find tap water that smells or tastes like petroleum, gasoline, or turpentine, yet it might be dangerous to your health. If your water smells like these, it may be contaminated by an underground reservoir that’s leaking gasoline, paint, detergent, or ink leftovers. Stop drinking the water and call your local health department right away.
Given that water makes up around 70% of the human body, water covers the bulk of the world and also makes up the majority of life. We all understand the importance of water for a multitude of reasons, and because we use water in so many different situations throughout the day, keeping it clean and safe to drink is critical.
