Taste & Odor Water Issues in Maryland, DC & Northern VA
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
- Mouth/skin irritation
- Disinfection byproducts (TTHMs, HAA5s, etc.) can be carcinogenic
Geosmin/MIB
- None documented
Chlorophenols
- Carcinogenic
- Liver/kidney damage
MTBE
- None documented at < 0.04 mg/L (USEPA)
Petroleum Products: Benzene, Xylenes
- Anemia
- Carcinogenic
- Nervous system damage
Copper
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Liver/kidney damage
- Wilson’s disease
Sulfate
- Laxative effects
Overall Poor Taste/Odor
- Indirectly may contribute to dehydration due to low consumption of water
pH < 6.5
- Corrosion by-products (lead, copper, etc.)
Treatment Options for Bad Tasting and Smelly Water
