The taste and quality of tap water can vary greatly from city to city and home to home. But even if your water contains a lot of contaminants, its quality is typically pretty consistent from day to day. That’s why it can be alarming when the water that comes out of your taps suddenly changes in its appearance, taste or smell. Today we’re going to talk about what can cause sudden changes in your water quality, what it might indicate when your water’s quality changes suddenly and what you can do to keep your water quality consistent!
What can cause sudden changes in water quality?
- Break in a water main. One of the most common reasons for a sudden change in water quality is a water main break somewhere in your city. This is one of the most serious causes of changes in water quality because it can allow dangerous pathogens to get into your city’s water supply. Water main breaks are often reported by the local news, and they can quickly alter the appearance, taste and smell of your water. In particular, if a water main break causes sewage water to contaminate public water supplies, your home’s water might have an increased salty taste.
- Extra chlorine added by water treatment plants. Many water treatment plants use a mixture of chlorine and ammonia called chloramine as their primary disinfectant. At certain points of the year, the plants will switch from chloramine to just chlorine as part of routine quality control or to respond to a contamination incident. If you notice a sudden increase in the taste or smell of chlorine in your water, this is likely the explanation.
- Growth of bacteria in wells. If you get your water from a private well, there’s a chance that a specific category of bacteria, known as sulfate reducing bacteria, can grow inside the well. This type of bacteria breaks down the naturally occurring sulfate in well water and produces hydrogen sulfide. Otherwise known as sulfur, hydrogen sulfide can make well water smell like rotten eggs. If you suddenly notice a rotten egg smell in your water, your private well may need to be disinfected.
- Heavy rains. If a private well is poorly constructed or suffering from structural damage, the quality of the water that comes from it can change suddenly after heavy rains. In particular, you might notice that your water tastes different, smells different or starts to become foggy or cloudy.
- Algae blooms. Many public water supplies come from lakes and rivers where algae goes through seasonal blooms. When algae blooms occur, tap water can suddenly start to taste dirty, smell fishy and cause short-term health issues like nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
How can you protect your water from sudden changes in quality?
The best way to protect your water from sudden changes in quality is to install a water treatment system in your home. A whole house filtration system is installed at the point where water enters your home, so it will remove any extra contaminants that might be in your water due to the conditions listed above. With this extra layer of protection, your water quality won’t be affected by outside conditions that are out of your control.
If you have any questions about sudden changes in your water quality, 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 all over the Carolinas, including towns like Kannapolis, Cornelius and Huntersville, NC.
photo credit: gazeronly via photopin (license)