Water Taste and Odor Issues: Musty Odor, Bad Taste, & More
Many people experience water taste and odor issues across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Bad odors in well water, like a metallic or fishy smell, can make drinking your tap water extremely unpleasant. The same goes for taste issues, like unnatural chemical flavors. Typically, these problems point to water contamination.
If you’re dealing with bad tastes and smells in your local water, schedule an appointment with Carroll Water for a free water test. Our experts will help identify what’s in your water and provide effective treatment recommendations.
Common Questions About Taste and Odor Issues
What Causes Taste and Odor Problems in Water?
Taste and odor issues are caused by contaminants in your water supply. These are either organic (think bacteria and vegetation) or inorganic (chemicals, metals, and so on). They can be side effects of water treatment methods or something untoward making its way into your water source.
Some issues common in our region include:
- Water that smells like sulfur (rotten eggs)
- Water that tastes and smells like metal
- Water that has a fishy or musty/earthy odor
- Water that tastes and smells like a swimming pool
- Water that smells like gasoline or oil
- Water that tastes sweet
Because problematic odors and tastes have different causes, we outline these individually below. Continue reading to learn more or contact us today!
Can You Drink Smelly Water or Water That Tastes Bad?
Foul-smelling or tasting water can be a sign of a more serious issue, and you should treat it as such. For example, trihalomethanes (THMs) can be a byproduct of the municipal water treatment process. Treatment plants inject chlorine into the water supply to eliminate bacteria. This can have a side effect if it reacts with natural organic matter in the water, producing THMs, a known carcinogen.
Many water problems in our area are accompanied by taste or odor issues. Some point to contaminants that require immediate attention. Others can simply be hard on your wallet, especially if hard water or acidic water is responsible.
What Are Some Common Taste and Smell Issues?
Bleach / Chlorine Smell
One of the biggest complaints we receive is that homes using municipal water have a chlorine smell or taste in their tap water. Public water systems use added chlorine to remove bacteria and keep supply lines clean. The unfortunate side effect is that your water can have a chemical smell or flavor to it. Sometimes, it will be stronger the closer you are to the treatment plant.
Rotten Egg Smell
Another one of the biggest complaints we hear is that well water has a sulfur odor (smells like rotten eggs). If your water smells like rotten eggs, it indicates your well may contain decaying vegetation. When vegetation breaks down, the bacteria that feed on it produce hydrogen sulfide as a byproduct, causing that smell.
These bacteria are called sulfur bacteria. While they’re not harmful, they can create slime buildup and make using your tap water extremely unpleasant. If you only notice a rotten egg smell when you turn on the hot water, this is a sign that you have an issue with your water heater.
Your hot water heater can make water smell like sulfur due to a reaction between the tank’s anode rod and sulfate ions. Sometimes, you might see brown water from the tap caused by corrosion of the anode rod. Or, sulfur-reducing bacteria may be living in the water heater tank. Both situations can result in the production of hydrogen sulfide gas.
In Maryland, Anne Arundel (near the bay), St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert Counties tend to have rotten egg odor issues.
Fishy / Musty / Earthy Smell
If your municipal water smells like fish or has a musty or earthy odor, this points to an algae bloom. Algae are typically removed during the water treatment process. However, the plant can’t eliminate the smell produced by dead algae.
When algae blooms occur, they often produce geosmin, the culprit behind unpleasant, earthy smells. However, in wells, a variety of bacteria can cause water to smell musty, earthy, or fishy. To determine the source of the issue, contact Carroll Water for a water analysis.
Wet Dog Smell
If your water smells like a wet dog, it indicates you either have a buildup problem in your plumbing system, a bacterial problem, or both somewhere in your water supply.
High concentrations of metals in your water can cause this smell. In addition, if your plumbing contains buildup, like rust deposits, bacteria can collect and multiply, giving off that bad odor. Lastly, if you use well water, your well itself could be contaminated with bacteria.
Oil / Fuel Smell
Water that smells like oil or gasoline often indicates a methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) problem. This is most often caused by contamination from petroleum products due to leaks, spills, or industrial discharge, but may also be due to certain bacteria. Bacteria that feed on iron in groundwater can produce a smell sometimes described as oily, swampy, or petroleum-like. This is usually accompanied by reddish stains and slimy residue, but the odor is more musty than chemical.
Gas and oil odors should never be ignored, and immediate professional water testing is recommended. This type of contamination can be highly toxic, and immediate water treatment is necessary to protect your water. If you notice a gasoline-like smell or flavor or see oily film on your tap water’s surface, contact Carroll Water for testing.
Important Note: Oily films on the surface of water are often caused by iron bacteria, mineral deposits, or biofilm and are generally harmless. However, if you notice a persistent film that reforms quickly or smells like fuel, stop using the water and get professional testing immediately.
Metallic Taste
If your water tastes like metal or smells metallic, it can be a sign of several issues. One, your pipes may be corroding. If you’re also noticing red-orange or blue-green stains near plumbing fixtures, this is another telltale sign of this issue. If this is the case, you likely have acidic water.
In other cases, a metallic flavor or odor can point to high iron or manganese in your water. If you see brown water from the faucet or red-orange or gray-black staining throughout your home, this is likely the cause. Manganese and iron in water can also lead to slime buildup from manganese and iron bacteria.
Iron in well water in Maryland, Virginia, and Southern Pennsylvania is incredibly common. This is because private wells are likely to tap into iron-rich aquifers. Iron-bearing minerals in local geology and soil contribute to elevated iron levels in well water.
Sweet Taste
Sweet-tasting water has multiple culprits. Hard water or high iron levels can make your water taste sweet. If this is the case, you’ll likely also see staining, rust particles in your water, or even slime residue from bacteria.
Additionally, pH issues, certain types of bacteria, and even waste contamination can make your water taste sweet. To learn more, visit our blog page: How Come My Tap Water Tastes Sweet?Contact Carroll Water for Testing and Treatment
You don’t have to let poor-tasting or foul-smelling water compromise your comfort. Carroll Water specializes in resolving water quality issues throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Our targeted solutions help address the many unique challenges in our region.
Whether you’re dealing with iron in Pennsylvania water that’s causing a metallic taste or musty odors in your Maryland well, we can help. We address bacterial contamination, low pH levels, chemical contamination, and more.
Since 1983, we’ve provided customers with comprehensive water quality solutions, from testing to treatment system installation. Our decades of experience ensure we know how to treat all types of taste and odor issues.
Contact Carroll Water today to schedule your free water analysis with our professional technicians. Have more questions about water quality concerns in your area? Visit our FAQs page!
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