When Your Water Tastes Bad
That Weird Feeling When Your Tap Water Tastes Bad
Have you ever taken a sip of water and thought, “That tastes strange”? Maybe it was bitter, metallic, musty, or even sweet. When your water tastes bad, it’s more than just annoying—it makes you wonder if it’s still safe to drink.
You might think, “Maybe I should boil it.” Boiling water is often used to kill germs, but does it fix bad taste too? Let’s take a closer look..
Your First Thought: Just Boil the Bad Tasting Water?
When water tastes strange, many people immediately think of boiling it. We’ve all been taught that boiling water makes it safe. Seeing a pot of water bubbling on the stove makes us feel like it’s getting clean. It’s a common idea that boiling is the best way to fix water quality problems. But is it really the best or only way to make your bad tasting water better?
Figuring Out: Why Does My Water Taste Bad?
Your tongue is very sensitive and can pick up on even tiny amounts of different things in water. When your drinking water tastes bad, it’s a sign that something is wrong with it.
Common Things That Make Drinking Water Taste Bad
Your tongue can detect even small changes in water. If your drinking water tastes bad, it usually means something is in the water that shouldn’t be.
1. Chlorine or Chemical Taste
City water often has chlorine or chloramines to kill germs. These make water safe but can leave a chlorine taste or smell—like pool water.
2. Metallic Taste in Water
Water can taste like metal if it has a lot of minerals such as iron, copper, or zinc. This can happen with hard water or from old pipes in your home.
3. Musty or Earthy Taste
Water may taste like dirt or mold if leaves, algae, or other natural materials get into the water source. This is more common in warmer months.
4. Gritty or Sandy Water
If water feels rough or has particles in it, like sand or rust, it might come from dirty pipes or the water source itself.
5. Plastic or Chemical Taste
Plastic pipes or faucets can sometimes give water a chemical or plastic-like flavor—especially if the water has been sitting for a while.
Short-Term or Long-Term?
Sometimes bad taste is temporary, like after heavy rain or water treatment updates. But if the bad tasting water is always there, it could be a long-term problem that needs a better solution than just boiling.
How It Affects You
When tap water tastes bad, you might stop drinking it, turn to bottled water, or worry about your health. This can be stressful and expensive.
What Boiling Doesn’t Do: Why Your Water Taste Problems Might Stay
How Boiling Works
Boiling water means heating it until it bubbles (212°F or 100°C). This kills many germs like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Boiling is helpful during emergencies or when there’s a boil water notice.
What Boiling Removes
Boiling kills harmful germs like:
- E. coli
- Giardia
- Cryptosporidium
This makes your water safer to drink if germs are the problem.
What Boiling Doesn’t Remove
Boiling does not fix most water quality problems that cause bad taste. In fact, it can make some issues worse.
- VOCs (Smelly Chemicals)
Some chemicals evaporate a little, but others stay and may even become more concentrated after boiling. - Heavy Metals (like Lead or Arsenic)
Boiling doesn’t remove heavy metals. It can make them stronger in the remaining water. - Pesticides and Herbicides
Boiling doesn’t get rid of most pesticides or herbicides. These chemicals are tough and heat doesn’t break them down. - Dissolved Solids
Extra minerals or salts—what often make water taste bad—stay in the water. As the clean water boils away, the leftover minerals make the taste even stronger.
Boiling Can Make Water Taste Worse
It may sound strange, but boiling can make bad tasting water even worse. That’s because boiling removes water as steam, leaving behind more of the things that cause bad taste.
Boiling Takes Time and Energy
Boiling water every day takes a lot of effort. You need time, energy, and patience to boil it and then let it cool. It’s not easy to keep up with.
Making the Problem Worse: Why Boiled Water Might Still Taste Bad
It might seem strange, but boiling can sometimes make the very things that make water taste bad stronger. As the water turns into steam, the things that don’t evaporate are left behind. This means there are more minerals, salts, and non-evaporating chemicals in the water that’s left. This can make the boiled water taste even worse.
A Lot of Work: Energy and Time for Daily Water Cleaning
Besides its chemical limits, boiling water for everyday use has practical downsides. It uses a lot of energy, costing you more on your electric or gas bill. It also takes a lot of time for the water to boil and then cool down enough to drink. If you had to boil all your water every day, it would be a big, difficult chore
So, Should You Boil Bad Tasting Water?
Boiling water is great for killing germs and making water safe in emergencies. But it won’t fix most taste problems. It can’t remove chlorine, metals, or other chemicals that cause unpleasant water taste. Sometimes, it makes things worse.
If your water tastes bad, boiling is not your best solution. There are better, longer-lasting ways to get clean, great-tasting water..
When Boiling Isn’t Always the Answer for Bad Taste
Boiling Isn’t Always the Answer for Bad Taste
While boiling is a powerful tool for killing germs and making water safe in an emergency, it’s clear it’s not a complete solution for bad tasting water. It often can’t remove the chemicals or minerals that cause taste issues, and sometimes it can even make the taste worse!
Coming Soon: Part 2 – Learn what actually works to fix bad tasting water and how to choose the right water filtration system for your home.
Ready to find out real solutions for bad-tasting water?
Protect your health with the right water filtration solution. For an excellent starting point, discover why Multipure’s solid carbon block filters are a top choice for removing taste-affecting contaminants like chlorine and much more.
