If you’re parched and down a glass of water, you probably won’t give much thought to its taste. But if you let the water linger in your mouth, you may notice it has a certain taste. What could it be? Read on to figure out.
Anyway, it helps to pay attention to your water quality. To maintain or improve its quality, experts advise that you replace your water filter every six months or so. To this end, discountfilterstore.com is a great place to find reasonably priced replacements.
So, does pure water taste good? Pure water is tasteless, meaning it can taste a bit flat. To help you understand what we mean, let’s examine the elements that give drinking water its characteristic taste, including the steps you can take to improve its taste.
1. Impurities
Water is essential to life but doesn’t always taste the best. This has to do with chemicals and minerals. Dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium, can give water a metallic or bitter taste.
Similarly, chlorine, often added to municipal water supplies to kill bacteria, can lead to an unpleasant taste. Carbon dioxide can result in a sharp, acidic taste. What’s more, these dissolved minerals can sometimes cause hard water, which leaves behind deposits on dishes and plumbing fixtures.
2. Personal Experience
Let’s not belabor the point, but the fact is, we’re not created equal. Just as our fingerprints are unique, so are our taste receptors. And by extension, it implies that no two people interpret flavor exactly the same way.
Our taste receptors are responsible for detecting sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory) flavors. But how our receptors process these flavors can vary from person to person. Some people may be more sensitive to certain flavors than others, which can affect how we experience water.
So, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining taste. What tastes good to one person may be distasteful to someone else. And that’s okay. Our differences are what make life interesting. So next time you’re enjoying a glass of water, remember that your taste experience is entirely your own.
3. Water Source
Your water source can have a significant effect on its taste. For example, if you live in an area with hard water, you may notice a metallic taste or feel a slimy film on your skin after showering.
Also, water from a well or spring is typically fresher-tasting than water from a municipal system. Municipal water contains fluoride, usually added to protect your teeth’s enamel. As such, the impurity can leave an after-taste. Aged copper piping can also give water a mineral taste.
On the other hand, mineral water gets its unique flavor from- you guessed it- minerals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines mineral water as “water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS).” TDS is a measure of all the dissolved minerals in the water. And if you opt for sparkling water, you would be drinking a carbonated beverage – thanks to the addition of carbon dioxide, which influences taste.
If you get water from a well, expect a high mineral content (soil minerals impact your water’s taste). Similarly, artificially alkalized water can leave behind a chalky residue. The alkalization process raises pH levels and gives water a less acidic and ‘smoother’ taste.
Still, other dissolved minerals like zinc and iron can contribute to your water’s flavor. If you’re concerned about the taste, you can always buy a test kit to check for impurities.
Ways to Improve Taste
You may opt to install a reverse-osmosis (RO) system in your home to purify your water. This filtration system removes impurities by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane.
Alternatively, you could also buy a water softener to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can give water a bitter taste. The Discount Filter Store also has a wide selection of water filtration systems that can help improve the quality and taste of your drinking water. And if you don’t have access to a filtration system or if your drinking water is a tad off-putting, you can improve its taste by:
- Filtering it.
- Mixing in fruits or herbs – ginger, mint, and crushed strawberries come to mind.
- Throwing in flavored ice cubes.
- Add squeezed lemon juice.
But, even if you have access to clean, fresh water, the way you store it can affect its flavor. If you leave a pitcher of water out on the counter all day, it will likely taste stale when you’re ready to drink it. On the other hand, storing your water in the fridge will retain its freshness and flavor longer. By taking these steps, you can ensure you’re always drinking the best-tasting water possible.
Ultimately, the question “does pure water taste good?” is a bit complicated. While pure water is technically tasteless, the way we interpret taste is purely subjective. As a result, any claim we make is merely anecdotal. For now, let’s say the jury is still out.