Do you have a weird metallic taste or smell in your water? If so, you may be asking why does my water taste like metal.
Millions of people experience this issue every day, and it can be caused by a variety of factors. Don’t worry – we’re here to help.
We want to help you get rid of that gross taste and smell as quickly and easily as possible. Here are 8 common causes and how to fix them. Plus, we’ll tell you if the water that tastes like metal is bad for your health.
Keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
Why Does My Water Taste Like Metal?
There are many different causes of a metallic taste or smell in water. Some are harmless, while others may indicate that there is something wrong with your water supply. Here are some of the most common reasons:
Cause #1 – Iron in water
Iron is one of the most common causes of a metallic taste or smell in water. It can be caused by either natural deposits or corrosion of metal pipes. If your water contains high levels of iron, it will likely also have a rusty color.
Iron is a very common element in the earth’s crust, so it’s not surprising that it can end up in your water supply. The level of iron in your water is usually determined by how close you are to natural sources of iron, like iron-rich rocks or minerals.
If you have a private well, there is a greater chance that your water contains high levels of iron. This is because well water is not treated with chlorine or other disinfectants, which can help to reduce the amount of iron in the water.
If you have a public water system, your water supplier may add chemicals to the water to prevent it from corroding metal pipes. However, these treatments can also cause a metallic taste or smell in the water.
Cause #2 – Manganese in water
Manganese is a common mineral in the earth’s crust. It is found in rocks, soil, and water. Groundwater often has high levels of manganese. If your water comes from a private well or public supply wells, it is more likely to contain manganese.
Manganese can cause your water to taste metallic, and it can also make the water cloudy or black. It is not considered a health hazard, but it can be unpleasant to drink.
Cause #3 – Copper in water
Copper is another common element that can cause a metallic taste or smell in water. Like iron, copper can be present in natural deposits or corroded metal pipes.
If your water contains high levels of copper, it will likely also have a blue-green color.
Copper is not as common as iron, but it can still be found in some water supplies. If you have copper pipes, there is a greater chance that your water will contain high levels of copper. Corrosive water can dissolve small amounts of copper from the pipes and into the water.
Cause #4 – Zinc in water
Galvanized steel pipes are coated with zinc to prevent it from rusting. If your home has galvanized pipes, there is a good chance that your water contains high levels of zinc. Many public water systems use galvanized pipes, so it is more common in areas that have older plumbing.
The EPA set a secondary drinking water regulation for zinc at 5 ppm. Zinc is not a health hazard, but at concentrations greater than the secondary drinking water standards, your water will have an unpleasant taste.
Cause #5 – Low pH or acidic water
pH levels that are too low or too high can be corrosive and cause your water to taste or smell like metal. Water that has a low pH or is acidic can dissolve metal from your pipes. Many residential plumbing systems are made of copper or steel pipes, and these metals can give your water a metallic taste. In addition, bronze plumbing fixtures can also contribute to a metallic taste in water.
The pH of your water is a measure of how acidic or basic it is. The ideal pH for drinking water is between 6.5 and 8.5 SUs.
Cause #6 – Lead in water
Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems. If your water contains high levels of lead, it can be harmful to drink.
Lead can enter your water supply through corroded pipes or plumbing fixtures. It is more common in areas that have older homes with lead-based paint or galvanized steel pipes.
The EPA has set a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for lead in drinking water at 0 ppb. This means that there should be no lead in your water. However, the EPA allows up to 15 ppb of lead in drinking water if it is below the MCLG.
Lead in water can give it a metallic taste or smell.
Cause #7 – Arsenic in water
Arsenic is a toxic metal that can cause cancer and other health problems. If your water contains high levels of arsenic, it can be harmful to drink. The EPA set a federal drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for arsenic.
Arsenic can enter your water from naturally occurring minerals. It is more common in many areas of the country.
Arsenic does not have a taste or smell, but it is often present in water that is highly reduced due to bacteria or environmental pollutants. These conditions can give your water a metallic taste.
Cause #8 – Chromium in water
Chromium-6 is a highly toxic metal that has been found to cause cancer in both animals and humans. It’s often used to produce stainless steel, anticorrosion coatings, textiles, and leather tanning. Improper handling or discharge of wastes from these industrial processes can pollute groundwater or rivers and contaminate drinking water supplies with chromium.
Chromium does not have a taste or smell, so it is unlikely that you will taste it if it’s in your water. However, chromium contaminated water often has other pollutants in it that impart a metallic odor or taste. If your water has a metallic taste, it may also have high levels of chromium.
How Do I Get Rid of Metal Taste or Smell in Water?
If you are experiencing a metallic taste or smell in your water, there are several things that you can do to get rid of it. The first step is to understand what contaminant is making your water taste or smell like metal. Once you know what is causing the problem, you can take steps to remove it from your water.
If you have a private well, have your water tested by a certified lab to determine what contaminants are present and at what levels. Your state or local health department can provide you with a list of certified labs in your area.
If you get your water from a public water system, you can contact your water provider to find out what contaminants are in your water and at what levels. Your water provider is required to provide you with this information upon request.
1. Iron treatment to remove strange water tastes
If you have high levels of iron in your water, you can treat it with a greensand filter. The greensand filter media is a great choice to help remove excess iron from the water you are filtering. The special coating of manganese oxide will oxidize any dissolved iron that might be present in your water. Once the iron is oxidized, it is not soluble and can be filtered out of the water. A greensand filter is a great way to remove the iron from your water and improve its taste and smell.
A water softener can remove small amounts of iron – up to 1 ppm. If you have higher levels than this, you’ll need a filter specifically for treating iron.
Reverse osmosis filtration can remove iron from your water. However, the membrane can become fouled if you have a lot of iron or other minerals in your water.
2. Manganese treatment to remove strange water tastes
If you have high levels of manganese in your water, you can treat it with a manganese greensand filter. These systems will remove the manganese from your water and improve its taste and smell.
Oxidation is an effective way to remove manganese that is dissolved in drinking water. This process uses an oxidizer like chlorine, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide to precipitate (convert to a solid) the dissolved manganese. Once the manganese is oxidized, it drops out of solution and is filtered to remove it from the drinking water.
Reverse osmosis filtration can also remove manganese from your water. However, the membrane can become fouled if you have a lot of iron or other minerals in your water.
3. Coper treatment
Reverse osmosis can remove up to 98% of the copper from your water. If you have high levels of copper in your water, a reverse osmosis system is a good way to remove it.
Distillation is also very effective in removing copper from your water. A distillation system heats water to the boiling point, causing it to turn into steam. The steam is then condensed back into water, which is collected in a storage tank. The copper is left behind and discharged as a waste.
Ion exchange water softeners can remove small amounts of copper from your water. If you have high levels of copper, you’ll need a filter specifically for treating it.
4. Zinc treatment
An ion exchange water softener can remove zinc and other ions from your water. You can use this method for zinc concentrations up to 100 ppm.
Reverse osmosis can remove up to 99% of the zinc from your water. If you have high levels of zinc in your water, a reverse osmosis system is a good way to remove it.
Distillation can also remove zinc from your water. A distillation system heats water to the boiling point, causing it to turn into steam. The steam is then condensed back into water, which is collected in a storage tank. The zinc is left behind and discharged as a waste.
5. Low pH water treatment
If your water has a low pH, you can treat it with an acid neutralizer. This will raise the pH of your water and make it more palatable.
A soda ash feeder can also be used to raise the pH of your water. This system injects a solution of soda ash into your water, which raises the pH and makes the water less acidic
6. Lead treatment
Reverse osmosis can remove up to 99% of the lead from your water. If you have high levels of lead in your water, a reverse osmosis system is a good way to remove it.
Distillation can also remove lead from your water. A distillation system heats water to the boiling point, causing it to turn into steam. The steam is then condensed back into water, which is collected in a storage tank. The lead is left behind and discharged as a waste
Lead can be removed from water with an activated carbon filter. This type of filter is effective in removing lead and other metals from your water.
If you are on city water, then the pipes connecting your house to the treatment plant may be constructed of lead.
7. Arsenic treatment
The current methods to remove arsenic from drinking water include precipitation, adding lime or coagulants and membranes.
Reverse osmosis can remove up to 99% of the arsenic from your water. If you have high levels of arsenic in your water, a reverse osmosis system is a good way to remove it.
Distillation can also remove arsenic from your water. A distillation system heats water to the boiling point, causing it to turn into steam. The steam is then condensed back into water, which is collected in a storage tank. The arsenic is left behind and discharged as a waste
Specialty adsorption media can be used to remove arsenic from your water. These filters use a special type of iron oxide media that is specifically designed to remove arsenic.
8. Chromium treatment
Reverse osmosis is the best way to remove chromium from your water. RO filters can remove 99+% of the chromium from your water.
Distillation can also remove chromium from your water. A distillation system heats water to the boiling point, causing it to turn into steam. The steam is then condensed back into water, which is collected in a storage tank. Chromium is left behind and discharged as a waste
Another effective method for removing chromium-6 from drinking water is anion exchange. This process removes chromium from your water with a special resin in which chromium ion is exchanged for another ion.
With high levels of chromate in groundwater, ferrous sulfate is used to reduce hexavalent chrome to insoluble trivalent chrome. A coagulant is added to the precipitated chrome and the material is then filtered out of the water.
Factors to Consider When
When deciding how best to treat your metallic tasting water, there are are several conditions and factors you should consider.
Is the metallic taste a new condition?
It is important to know if the metallic taste is a new condition. If the water has always had a metallic taste, it is likely that the source of the problem is from your well or pipes and not your water treatment system. Generally, a problem that you’ve always had is not a sign of a serious problem and can be addressed with a whole-house filter.
If the metallic taste is a new condition, it is possible that some type of pollution is affecting your drinking water. This is a more serious condition that requires the help of a professional.
Do you have a well or public water?
If your drinking water comes from a private well, it is your responsibility to ensure that the water is safe to drink. If you have city water, the local government is responsible for ensuring its safety.
Do you have a water softener?
If you have a water softener, it is possible that the problem is with your water softener and not your drinking water. If this is the case, you should check the operation manual to troubleshoot your softener. In some cases, the metallic taste is related to biological activity and you need to disinfect your system.
Is Water That Tastes Like Metal Bad for My Health
In most cases, the metal taste you detect in your water is not bad for you. For example, iron and manganese are safe to drink at the levels that you are likely to encounter them in your water. They impart an unpleasant metallic taste but don’t pose a health risk.
Some metals, such as lead and copper, can be harmful if they are present at high levels in your water. These metals can leach into your water from old pipes or solder. If you have high levels of these metals in your water, you should have it tested and treated by a professional.
Concerns with arsenic in water
Arsenic is a carcinogen and can cause health problems at high levels in drinking water. If you have concerns about arsenic, you should have your water tested for it.
Concerns with lead in water
Lead is a neurotoxin and can cause health problems at high levels in drinking water. Lead is especially problematic for young children and pregnant women. If you suspect your water is contaminated with lead, you should immediately have it tested and stop drinking it until you are sure it is safe.
Concerns with chromium in water
Chromium-6 is potentially carcinogenic and can cause health problems at high levels in drinking water. It can cause dermatitis, pneumonia, and creates risks for fetuses.
The USEPA established a drinking water standard of 0.1 ppm for chromium.
Concerns with copper in water
Copper is an essential mineral that helps form healthy red blood cells, bones, and nerves. It can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis.
At high levels, copper can cause nausea, diarrhea, and in severe cases, kidney failure.
Other Considerations for Metallic Taste and Odor in Water
If you’ve noticed that your water tastes metallic, it’s worth investigating the source of the problem. One potential culprit could be your local water supply. While most municipalities have rigorous testing procedures to ensure the safety of their water, sometimes minerals like iron or copper can leach into the water, giving it a metallic taste.
Additionally, if your home or office uses a dispenser from a company like Waterlogic, it’s possible that the dispenser itself is contributing to the issue. These dispensers are designed to filter and purify water, but if they aren’t properly maintained or tested, they could be introducing contaminants into your drinking water.
To address this issue, it’s a good idea to contact the service team at Waterlogic or another local water dispenser provider. They may be able to provide free testing to determine if the dispenser is causing the metallic taste. If it is, they can work with you to clean or repair the dispenser, or recommend a new one that will provide clean, great-tasting water.
In some cases, it may be necessary to test your local water supply to determine if the issue is coming from the source. With the help of professionals, you can ensure that your water is safe and free from any unpleasant metallic tastes.
FAQs
Why does my metal water bottle make water taste metallic?
The most likely reason your water has a metallic taste is because of the presence of actual metal content. Trace metals like iron, manganese, zinc, and copper can provide that unwanted hint of metal taste in your water. Another possible cause could be low pH which has been known to produce metallic tastes.
Is metallic tasting water safe?
In most cases, water that tastes metallic is safe to drink. The most common cause is iron, manganese, or low pH. However, if you have concerns about the presence of harmful metals like lead or copper, you should have your water tested.
Why does my refrigerator water taste like metal?
If your refrigerator water tastes like metal, it is most likely due to the presence of iron or manganese in your water. These metals can leach into your water from old pipes or fixtures. Fortunately, these metals are not bad for you – they just have an unpleasant taste.
Final Take on Metallic Tasting Water
If you’re experiencing a metallic taste or smell in your water, it’s important to determine the cause as soon as possible. The good news is that most of the time this issue can be resolved relatively easily. Factors to consider include pH levels, presence of metals such as iron and manganese, and your water source. Is the water bad for your health? That depends on the cause of the metallic taste or smell. If you have any concerns, please consult with a healthcare professional. Thanks for reading!