Tap water can have a variety of tastes, depending on the impurities present in it. But what if the water tastes sweet? What does the water contain that imparts that very characteristic sweet taste? Is it okay or should you install a water filtration system. Here is everything you need to know about it.
There’s Chlorine In The Water
Aside from chlorine tasting very bleachy, it can also have a sweet taste and if you try to drink tap water with too much chlorine in it, then you can taste the sweetness. Chlorine is nature’s disinfectant, but you should know that too much of anything will be harmful to your body and everyone else too. Too much chlorine can cause irritation in the stomach and if you’re already prone to ulcers, then chlorine can make things worse.
This is why it’s important to not overuse chlorine if you’re trying to get rid of bacteria and other live organisms. If you want, you can try to boil the water to get rid of chlorine, or if you can, invest in a water filter that removes chlorine for good and it will take care of everything.
Iron Can Also Lead To Sweet Taste
Iron is a metal that can be found in trace quantities in either tap water or even treated water. Iron is usually present in water, but too much of it can cause a weird taste as well as a tinge of color to the normally colorless and tasteless water. So, where does all of that extra iron come from?
Well, firstly, it can be due to the corrosion of the pipes around your house. It can also be because of clogged faucets that haven’t been used in a long time. This can cause iron accumulation and when water passes through it, it can take a lot of specks of iron with it and it can cause the water to taste and smell sweet with a hint of that very familiar metallic smell.
So, now you know why iron can make your water taste bad, so how do you get rid of it? Well, a filter is the simple answer to your problem. And if corroded pipes are the culprit, then you might want to change them before it’s too late. You should consider water testing and a plumbing inspection.
High Concentration Of Minerals
Water naturally contains a lot of minerals. You might think that water is just a plain combination of oxygen and hydrogen but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Tap water contains a lot of essential minerals that help to keep the body in check and maintain mineral balance. These minerals include calcium, iron, potassium, and fluoride, among many others.
However, sometimes, the quantity of these minerals can exceed in water and this can not only affect the composition of water but also its taste. This is why you will notice that your water tastes rather sweet. This can be because of the high concentration of calcium or other minerals in it.
Hard water, which has an excess concentration of calcium and magnesium can also be sweet. So, you need to understand that minerals can have an effect on the taste of water and even though it is not harmful to your health, it can cause problems with the piping in the long run. For removing excess mineral from your drinking water, you can use a water softener system Warren.
Biofilm Can Be The Culprit
You’ve heard of biological components in water like algae and even amoeba, but what is biofilm and how can that make your water taste sweet? Well, biofilm is a layer of biological organisms. This layer can be formed on top of the water, since it’s very lightweight and it can contain traces of biological components like fungi and algae, and it can also contain waste products.
Needless to say, it is unnecessary and it needs to be anywhere but on top of the water you’re about to drink. Biofilms can cause a lot of problems in the pipes and plumbing system of your house, so you need to ensure that you’re keeping an eye out for them.
Now, certain biofilms in drinking water can be sweet, while others can go into your body, or your sinus to be exact, and activate sweet receptors. This will make everything taste sweet and you will be confused. So, how do you get rid of biofilms? Well, flushing the water a couple of times can do the trick, but if it doesn’t, then you might need to keep your plumber on speed dial.
A Medical Condition
Sometimes, there isn’t anything in the water, but something is wrong with your body that is making everything taste super sweet. So, what is it? Mainly, certain diseases and disorders can make your taste buds perceive everything as sweet.
If you’ve noticed the change in your mouth’s taste when you have the common cold or even the flu, then you will see or taste everything for yourself and it will be sweet. Sometimes, other conditions like hyperglycemia can also make everything you eat and drink taste sweet.
Your Taste Is Altered
Maybe it is not the water that’s sweet but something that you ate before drinking water. Chomping on a chocolate bar, eating a good portion of ice cream, or even having a chug of sweet juice and drinking water right after might alter your taste buds.
See, sweet things can coat your mouth for a bit and the taste of the sweetness lingers, even if you drink water. So, to wash it down completely, you might want to gurgle a few times and that will do the trick.
It’s The Hormones
If you’re pregnant, then your mouth can have a really weird taste. It is a combination of a metallic taste with a sweet hint to it. It is very unpleasant and no, there’s nothing wrong with the water, rather it’s your hormones that have altered the taste of everything.
Sometimes, the body can produce high levels of estrogen and if you’re pregnant or generally suffer from hormonal imbalance, then it can heighten the taste buds that make everything taste sweet and that is why you’ll feel like everything you drink and eat is sweet.
There Are Hydrocarbons In The Water
Hydrocarbons can also be the reason why your water tastes sweet. Sometimes, if the water is coming from an underground source that is close to a hydrocarbon reserve, then it can bleed into the water reserve and cause the water to get mixed with the gasses and it will eventually taste very sweet.
This is a huge problem and it is very crucial to get rid of this because the last thing you need is to chug down water that has a lot of hydrocarbons in it, which can cause a host of issues.
Conclusion
Sweet tasting water – it may sound pleasant but it will be anything but. So, you want to get to the bottom of the issue by getting the water tested so you can see if the issue is with the water or is it you. If the water has contaminants, install a whole house water filtration Meadville system. And if it’s just you, then see a doctor.