Taste and odour
Water can dissolve many different substances, giving it varying tastes and odors. Humans and other animals have developed senses which (more or less) enable them to evaluate the potability of water by avoiding water that is too salty or putrid. Humans also tend to prefer cold water to lukewarm water since cold water is likely to contain fewer microbes.[citation needed] The taste advertised in spring water or mineral water derives from the minerals dissolved in it: Pure H2O is tasteless and odorless. The advertised purity of spring and mineral water refers to absence of toxins, pollutants and microbes.
Content Table
Known Odour and Taste Causes
Alkali Taste
Alkali taste can appear on high hardness of the water, with high total dissolved solids content or high alkalinity.
Earthy, Musty, Grassy, Fishy, Vegetable and Cucumber Like Odour
These type of odours can be caused by algal by-products.
Medicinal, Chlorinous, Bleachy, or Chemical Taste/Odour
Causes can be the addition of chlorine to the water by the public water supplier or the interaction of that chlorine with build-up of organic material in the plumbing system itself. The latter can be identified if the smell/taste disappears within minutes after opening the faucet or if it only appears at one of several faucets.
Metallic Taste
Most common cause for metallic taste in drinking water is the presence of iron (at levels over 0.004 mg/L) and/or copper (2-5 mg/l) which can lead into water from pipes. Zinc (4-9 mg/L) and manganese are noticeable at higher concentrations and are less common causes.
Petroleum or Oily Smell
Most likely cause is gasoline or oil contamination, but also thinkable are nuisance bacteria.
Salty Taste
In coastal areas a salty taste may be the indication for ocean water intruding into the fresh water system. For users of private wells it leakage from road salt application can be a rare cause. Usually the salty taste has natural causes as natural occurring sodium, potassium and/or magnesium.
Sulfurous, Decayed, Sewage like Taste/Odour
The most common cause of this type of problem can occur in the drain when organic matter (soap, food waste and hair) accumulate on the walls of the drain and thus enhance biofilm formation. Biological degradation of organic matter by bacteria can cause those smells, which can also affect the taste sense. Another cause can be sulfur-reducing bacteria growing inside of a water heater when the hot water remains unused for longer periods of time.
Related Articles
- Water Quality
- Drinking Water Quality
- Drinking Water Standards
- Health Impact Assessment
- Wastewater Indicators
- A Brief History of Water and Health from Ancient Civilizations to Modern Times
- Water Quality and Purity
- Waterborne Dieseases
- Influence of Taste and Odor on Consumer Perception of Tap Water Quality and Safety
References
MassDEP - Color, Taste, and Odor: What you should know
Water-Resarch.net
Reference 1
Reference 2
Reference 3
Links
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
