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Does Your Tap Water Taste Metallic? Here's what it Might Mean about Your Home's Water Quality

4258976764_6518d9aef7_mThere are some water quality issues that are hard to ignore, especially those that affect the taste of your tap water. When your tap water tastes strange, it can be difficult to drink and you might start to worry about whether or not it’s safe to consume. One common complaint about the flavor of tap water is that it tastes metallic. Today we’re going to talk about some water quality issues that can cause your water to taste metallic, the possible health issues related to metallic-tasting tap water and what you can do to remove the metallic taste from the drinking water in your New Hampshire home!

Water quality issues that can cause your tap water to taste metallic

  • High levels of iron. Iron contamination is most problematic for homes with well water, and it is one of the most common causes of the metallic taste in drinking water. If your water tastes metallic and you get it from a private well, there is a good chance that iron is to blame.
  • Concentrations of other metals. In addition to iron, there are a number of other metals that can be found in New Hampshire tap water. These metals, which include manganese, lead, zinc and copper, either occur naturally in bedrock or leech off of metal pipes.
  • Low pH levels. Acidic water on its own does not taste metallic, but its corrosive properties degrade metal pipes and allow metal particles to leech into water supplies. These tiny pieces of pipe materials can give off a metallic taste.

Possible health issues related to metallic-tasting tap water

If your home’s tap water tastes metallic, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it poses a health risk. The safety of your home’s water depends on what is causing the metallic taste. For example, even though iron gives off a strong metallic taste, it is not known to cause any health problems in the people who consume it. Other metals like lead, zinc and manganese, on the other hand, are associated with serious and long-lasting health problems.
In order to figure out whether or not your water is safe to drink, have it tested by McBride’s. Our comprehensive laboratory testing service tests for iron, pH levels and a number of different metals. This test is the best way to figure out why your water tastes metallic and whether or not your water is safe to drink.

How to remove the metallic taste from your tap water

In order to remove the metallic taste from your tap water, you must first determine the cause. As we mentioned above, this is best done by having your water tested. When you receive your test results, McBride’s will help you choose the right filtration system to address your home’s specific problems. We offer a wide range of water treatment systems that can address all of the contaminants and quality issues that we addressed above.
If you have any questions about why your tap water tastes metallic, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact McBride’s Water Advantage, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in Epsom, NH. We provide service all over New Hampshire, including towns like Laconia, Nottingham and Goffstown, NH.
photo credit: gromgull via photopin (license)