Tannins are a form of decayed organic matter (primarily from vegetation) that dissolve into water. They are commonly found in lakes and rivers, as well as in swampy or marshy areas. Today we’re going to talk about how tannins can get into your home’s tap water, the symptoms of water with high levels of tannins and what you can do to remove the contaminants from the water in your North or South Carolina home!
How do tannins get into tap water?
As we mentioned above, tannins are commonly found in rivers and lakes. If your city gets its water from a surface water supply that contains high levels of tannins, there’s a good chance that those tannins will be in your tap water as well. Tannins are considered a secondary contaminant, so they are not regulated by the EPA.
Tannins can also seep through cracks in rock formations, allowing them to get into private wells that have cracks or fissures.
What are the symptoms of tannins in tap water?
- Water will have a yellow or brown tint (similar to tea)
- Toilet bowls and sinks will develop yellow stains
- Clothes will have yellow stains after coming out of the washing machine
- Water will smell musty and taste bitter
Are there any health effects of tannins in tap water?
Fortunately, the effects of tannins are purely aesthetic and they do not affect the health of the people who consume them. However, if tannins are able to make their way to your home’s tap water in high levels, it can also indicate that other types of contaminants like bacteria and pathogens are making their way to your tap water as well. That’s why, even though tannins themselves do not cause health effects, it’s best to be on the safe side and have your water tested for other types of contaminants if you think your water contains tannins.
How can you remove tannins from your tap water?
Tannins can easily be removed from your tap water by installing a water filtration system that uses an activated carbon filter. It would be best to install a whole-house filtration system as opposed to a point-of-use model so that you can protect your clothing and plumbing fixtures from stains, in addition to clearing up the taste, smell and appearance in your water at every tap.
If you have any questions about tannins in drinking water, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in North and South Carolina. We provide service to areas all over the Carolinas, including towns like Indian Trail, Monroe and Oakboro, NC.