Why does my drinking water taste, look or smell bad?
Drinking water can become contaminated from many sources, including:
- Chemicals: Fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals applied to land near the water
- Wildlife: Animal waste, septic systems, and other sources of fecal matter
- Plumbing: Corrosion of household plumbing systems
- Natural deposits: Erosion of natural deposits
- Nitrates: Chemicals found in fertilizers, manures, and liquid waste from septic tanks and plumbing systems
- Other sources: Oil and chemical spills, sewer overflows, stormwater, and manufacturing operations
What are signs my drinking water has problems?
- Earthy or musty taste and odor: This is often the result of compounds released from decaying vegetation and are typically associated with different forms of algae. While not toxic, they are nonetheless unpleasant and can be offensive at very low concentrations.
- “Rotten egg” smell: Another source of smelly water is hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless corrosive gas that has the characteristic odor of rotten eggs. In high concentrations, it can leave an unpleasant odor on hair and clothing, accelerate the corrosion of metal appliances, and ultimately become a health risk.
- Metallic taste: A metallic taste in your water indicates the presence of metals such as iron, copper, manganese, or zinc. Iron and manganese are often naturally occurring and are predominantly found in groundwater. Copper and zinc can come from an aging water distribution system or the corrosion of copper plumbing and brass fittings.
How to improve drinking water
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is one of the best ways to improve the drinking water in your home. Reverse osmosis is a water filtration process that forces water through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane has holes small enough to reject anything larger than a water molecule making reverse osmosis very effective for contaminant removal. The process is known for producing water of the highest quality. RO systems are good for both city water and well water. Kinetico offers multiple RO drinking water systems to help with ensure you have the best possible drinking water for your home.
To get started, call us at (515) 277-6250 or contact us to schedule your free water analysis.
