Drought May Alter The Taste Of Your Drinking Water, Expert Says

Does your tap water taste strange? It may be the drought. 

As rain continues to be scarce and temperatures are high in 48 percent of the continental U.S., according to Drought.gov, minerals and naturally occurring compounds can become more concentrated, which can give tap water a different taste or smell.

“Droughts affect both the quantity and quality of surface water,” said Virginia Tech water quality expert Andrea Dietrich. “With less precipitation and more heat, evaporation increases and the remaining minerals become more concentrated.”

That can give drinking water a salty, mineral-like, chalky, bitter, or metallic taste. Warmer water can also make mineral flavors more noticeable.

Warm weather can also encourage algae and cyanobacteria to grow in lakes and reservoirs, producing naturally occurring compounds such as geosmin, which has an earthy smell, and 2-methylisoborneol, which can smell musty. Humans can detect both at incredibly low concentrations at just a few parts per trillion — but they’re not dangerous.

“Although these compounds are unpleasant taints in drinking water, they occur naturally in foods and beverages such as beets, corn, and coffee,” Dietrich said.

So, what should you do if your tap water suddenly tastes off?

Check with your water provider.

An unusual taste or odor doesn't necessarily mean your water is unsafe. But some odors, particularly sewage-like or septic odors, can indicate a potential health concern. “Anyone who notices an unusual taste or odor in tap water should contact their water provider or utility and ask about it,” Dietrich said.

Drink it cold.

“Chilling water can reduce the perception of tastes and odors, so drinking cold water will help,” said Dietrich. 

Try a carbon filter.

One way to improve the smell and taste of drinking water is through “home treatment devices, such as water-filter pitchers,” suggested Dietrich. “Filters often contain activated carbon that removes many odors.”

Know where your water comes from.

The source of your drinking water is one of the biggest factors influencing its taste. “Local geology determines which minerals dissolve into groundwater and surface water, while algae and cyanobacteria can contribute taste and odor in some lakes and reservoirs,” said Dietrich.

“If you want to know more about why your community’s water tastes the way it does, check out your utility’s Annual Water Quality Report,” Dietrich continued. “It will provide information about the source water, treatment practices and regulated contaminants.”

Don't assume a bad taste means dangerous water — or that a familiar taste means safe water.

Drought-related taste and odor changes are usually unpleasant rather than dangerous. But in severe droughts, mineral concentrations of sodium or certain metals can become high enough to create health concerns. If your water suddenly tastes or smells significantly different, check with your water provider before assuming it's safe. Utility providers have options for dealing with it. 

“Proactive planning is essential for managing droughts and related taste and odor problems,” Dietrich said. 

About Dietrich

Andrea Dietrich is a professor in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on drinking water quality, environmental chemistry, and taste and odor in drinking water.