Many people understand the importance of drinking water, but how do you drink more of it if the taste and health of your drinking water is less than perfect? Unfortunately, a lot of people turn to drinking bottled water, a solution that isn’t good for you or the environment. Plus, that doesn’t solve the actual problem of unhealthy tap water that doesn’t taste good. Instead, let’s take a look at some long-term solutions that will leave you with safe, great-tasting water your whole family can enjoy.
What’s Making Your Drinking Water Taste Bad?
Before you can improve the taste and health of your drinking water, it’s important to learn what’s IN it. That means checking out your town’s water quality report or getting a water test. Ultimately, what you find out will dictate what you do next. That’s because some of your options will only affect water taste while others eliminate contaminants that affect taste AND health.
Here are some of the most common contaminants that create unsafe drinking water or at least impact its taste:
- Chlorine
- Lead
- Old plumbing
- Hard water minerals
- Hydrogen sulfide
- Bacteria
- Chemicals
Once your water has been tested and you’ve identified any contaminants lurking there, it’s time to do something about it. The solutions presented below can help you have great-tasting tap water that’s safe to drink.
Ways to Improve Drinking Water Taste and Health
1. Use healthy additives in your drinking water.
If you’re already had your water tested and it’s contaminant-free, there’s nothing wrong with putting some tasty additives into your water. This includes things like lemon, citrus fruits, honey, cucumber, mint, and other flavor infusers. While additives like these improve drinking water taste, they won’t do much for drinking water health. But if you drink more water because it tastes good, that CAN help you stay hydrated and healthy!
2. Have a whole house water filtration system installed.
This is a great way to get safe, quality water throughout your home – for every use and at every faucet. A whole house filtration system is just that – a system that filters ALL the water your household uses. It’s hooked up to where water enters your home so every drop that goes through your pipes is safe to use.
Benefits of a whole house water filtration system include:
- Better tasting water – Chlorine and other chemicals are removed so your water will taste and smell better.
- Clearer water – With whole house filtration, there’s no more cloudy tap water! That’s because sediment, rust, and other elements that make your water cloudy are filtered out.
- Healthier water – This type of filtration system removes common contaminants that create health risks for you and your family.
3. Install a reverse osmosis drinking water system.
If you’re not concerned about the water you use for bathing and cleaning, this can be a cheaper option than a whole house water filter. Reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water systems are point-of-use water filters, meaning they provide water filtration at a specific point where water is being used. Since they’re typically installed under the kitchen sink, this means that only the water used for drinking, cooking, or making beverages is filtered.
Even though RO systems only treat water in a single area, they’re a great way to improve the taste AND health of your drinking water. That’s because they remove impurities like bacteria, metals, parasites, and other contaminants that make for unhealthy tap water that tastes poorly.
4. Use an activated carbon filter unit.
Have you ever used a water pitcher with a built-in filter? If so, it’s likely that you’ve already had experience with activated carbon filters. They’re also found in many refrigerators that offer drinking water filtration.
Carbon filters absorb organic compounds and other contaminants that affect drinking water taste. They’re also helpful for removing chlorine, making them a solid choice for city dwellers whose municipalities use chlorine for drinking water treatment. The downside is that they may not be sufficient to keep up with your household’s drinking water needs.
5. Install a water softener.
By definition, hard water contains high levels of minerals, typically calcium and magnesium. While these minerals are generally safe to drink, they can make your drinking water have a metallic taste. And if your home has hard water, you’re likely to see signs of it throughout the house – mineral buildup on fixtures, water spots on dishes, and even clogged pipes. Having a water softener installed can help you lose that metallic taste from your drinking water while also making cleaning, laundry, and other chores easier.
Improve Drinking Water Taste and Health With a Water Treatment System From CalSoft Water in Santa Maria, CA
CalSoft Water has been serving the Santa Maria area since 1979. That’s over 40 years of providing the best water treatment products and services so homeowners can get the quality water they need and deserve!
We offer a wide variety of home water treatment options including water softeners, water softener exchange tank service, drinking water systems, and whole house filtration systems. Simply contact us today to learn more. Our Santa Maria water treatment experts will help you find the best way to improve the taste and health of YOUR drinking water!