What To Do When Your Water Tastes Bad

"It's understandable that Americans are concerned about water quality these days. Not only is the news filled with stories about unsafe drinking water, but we are also constantly bombarded by marketing messages trying to convince us that bottled water is better than tap water. A lot of the time, the water coming out of the tap tastes bad - so there has to be something wrong with it, right?"

"It is indeed true that many American communities no longer have access to safe drinking water. Recent data from the Environmental Working Group reveal that 324 contaminants have been detected in drinking water across nearly 50,000 water systems, with over 143 million Americans having PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," in their tap water. Adding to concerns, the EPA's National Public Water Systems Compliance Report found that only 72 percent of public water systems had no reported violations of drinking water standards in 2023."

"Absolutely pure distilled water tastes awful and is not very healthy in large quantities or for prolonged consumption, as it can leach minerals from your body. Most of the flavor in water comes from dissolved minerals. Not only do minerals affect flavor, but they also improve the healthful qualities of the water. Sometimes, contamination can affect the taste of water, but most of the bad-tasting contaminants are not hazardous."

Many American communities face unsafe drinking water with hundreds of contaminants detected in thousands of systems and widespread PFAS presence. Public water system compliance is imperfect, with a notable share reporting violations. Bottled water offers no universal guarantee of greater safety and introduces additional health risks from plastic. Water taste primarily reflects dissolved minerals, which can improve water's health qualities, while many dangerous pollutants are tasteless. Distilled water tastes poor and can leach minerals from the body if consumed excessively. Consumers can verify contaminants in local supplies using available databases and testing resources.

Read at Earth911