Have you ever taken a sip of water and immediately noticed something… off? You’re not alone. While clean drinking water is essential, many people report unpleasant tastes that make them question what’s really coming out of their tap.

Let’s break down some of the most common taste complaints and what might be causing them.

1. The Chlorine Taste: “Pool Water” at the Tap

One of the most frequent complaints is a strong chlorine taste or smell. Many describe it as similar to swimming pool water.

Why it happens:
Chlorine is commonly used to disinfect water supplies. It helps kill harmful bacteria and keeps water safe during distribution. However, if levels are higher than expected—or if your water sits in pipes for a while—you may notice a stronger taste.

Is it safe?
In most cases, yes. Chlorine is regulated and considered safe in small amounts, but the taste can still be unpleasant. If there has been local repairs done then often there will be an extra dose which can lead to higher levels, this is far from ideal.

What you can do:

Let water sit in an open container for a few hours (chlorine can dissipate)
Use a carbon filter to reduce the taste

2. Metallic Taste: When Water Tastes Like Coins

Some people report a metallic or bitter taste, often described as tasting like pennies or metal.

Possible causes:

Old plumbing (iron, copper, or galvanised pipes)
Corrosion in household pipes
Naturally occurring minerals in groundwater
New taps or pipes have been fitted
To some people this is the taste of hard water

Why it matters:
While small amounts of minerals aren’t usually harmful, a strong metallic taste could indicate pipe corrosion, which may require attention. Once we find what the exact cause is then one of many filters can improve the taste.

3. Sulphur Taste: The “Rotten Egg” Smell

This is one of the most unpleasant water complaints.

What it tastes (and smells) like:
Rotten eggs

Cause:
Hydrogen sulphide gas, which can occur naturally in groundwater or result from bacteria in pipes or water heaters.

What to check:

Does it only happen with hot water? (could be your water heater)
Does it affect all taps? (could be your water source)

This taste is rare in the UK but if you experience it we would want to get a water test done to determine what equipment would best solve your problem.

4. Earthy or Musty Taste: Like Dirt or Mould

Sometimes water can taste like soil, mould, or even algae. Described often as just a stale taste

Common reasons:

Organic material in the water supply
Seasonal changes affecting lakes or reservoirs
Algae blooms
Badly maintained softeners and filters

Even treated water can carry trace compounds that affect taste, especially during warmer months. We find this taste occurring on customers that have not undertaken regulator servicing of their water softeners and filtration system. We advise serving of softeners at least every two years.

5. Salty Taste: Not What You Expect From Fresh Water

A salty taste in drinking water can be surprising—and concerning.

Potential causes:

Naturally occurring sodium in groundwater
Water softeners adding sodium if badly maintained

We have seen this on broken and badly maintained softener units. A water softener working correctly should never give you a salty taste if it does please get it serviced.

6. Chemical or Plastic-Like Taste

Sometimes water tastes synthetic, like plastic or chemicals.

Possible reasons:

Contaminants entering the water supply
New plumbing materials
Storage in plastic containers

This type of taste should not be ignored and may warrant further investigation, it is often exasberated by boiling. We have found the most common cause to be cheap taps and fittings on new build properties. We would not recommend a filter but instead to remove the fitting that causes the problem.

When Should You Be Concerned?

Not all unpleasant tastes mean your water is unsafe—but they shouldn’t be ignored either.

You should consider testing your water if:

The taste suddenly changes
The odor is strong or persistent
Multiple people in your home notice it
You experience staining, cloudiness, or residue

Improving the Taste of Your Water

If your water is safe but doesn’t taste great, here are a few simple solutions:

Install a water filter (especially activated carbon filters)
Flush your tap for a few seconds before drinking
Keep drinking water cold (cold water tastes better)
Regularly clean and maintain plumbing fixtures

Final Thoughts Stuff You Cannot Taste

We worry about the things we taste but increasingly customers are concerned about the tasteless contaminates such as micro plastics, PFAS and pharmaceuticals etc. These are not treated by local water companies and most are not even measured for. These are a really big concerns for customers and their families. As an industry we recommend the fitting of Reverse Osmosis systems as these remove the most contaminates. We have a great article on filters so check it out.

What’s That Taste? Common Complaints About Drinking Water

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