Taste and Odor Water Treatement

Causes of bad tasting water or water with odors

Chlorine, Chloramines, Chlorine Dioxide

How to Identify
Bleach smell or taste

Geosmin, 2-Methyl Isoborneol

How to Identify
Earthy, dirt odor
Musty, wet mulch odor

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether

How to Identify
Solvent, petroleum taste/odor

Hydrogen Sulfide

How to Identify
Rotten egg smell

Iron

How to Identify
Metallic taste
Rust color

Manganese

How to Identify
Metallic taste
Brown/black color
Staining of tubs and other services

Minerals (TDS) & Metals Hardness

How to Identify
Salty/bitter taste

Chlorides

How to Identify
Salty/mineral taste

Sulfate

How to Identify
Salty/mineral taste

Corrosion Products: Aluminum, Copper, Zinc, Suspended Iron

How to Identify
Cloudy water
Metallic taste
Green or blue color
Rust/metallic taste
Rust color

PH

How to Identify
pH < 6.5: acidic/bitter taste
pH > 8.5: alkaline/slippery taste-feel

Potentional harmful effects of bad tasting or smelling water

Chlorine

Geosmin/MIB

Chlorophenols

MTBE

Petroleum Products: Benzene, Xylenes

Copper

Sulfate

Overall Poor Taste/Odor

pH < 6.5

National Water Service: Warning signs in your house water