Why does my water taste sweet?
There are several common reasons why water can taste sweet, from high mineral levels in your water to plumbing issues within your home.
1. High mineral levels
When your water has high levels of calcium, iron, or magnesium, it can give it a sweet taste that many people find unpleasant. While these minerals are naturally occurring and essential for your health, high levels of them can give your water a sweet or metallic taste. Even if the water is safe to drink, the sweet flavor might make it less enjoyable.
2. Chlorine from treatment
Chemicals like chlorine that remain in water after treatment can affect how your water smells and tastes. It typically has a strong smell similar to a pool or bleach, but it can also come off as slightly sweet with a chemical aftertaste.
3. Contamination
In water, contaminants such as bacteria and heavy metals can alter the taste of your water with a sweet, bitter, or musty flavor. Even if contaminants are present in small amounts, your body is highly sensitive to changes in water taste to avoid consuming dangerous compounds. For example, humans can detect geosmin, a compound produced by bacteria that creates an earthy or musty taste—at a level of 5 nanograms per liter of water. That’s equivalent to detecting the taste of two grains of dissolved salt in an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
4. Plumbing issues
Older copper or iron pipes can also affect the taste of your water, especially if the pipes are corroding. As metal corrodes, it can leach into your water and alter its taste with a sweet flavor.
5. Water pH level
The pH level of water plays a big role in how it tastes. Water with a pH below 7 (more acidic) can taste sour or metallic, while water with a pH above 7 (more alkaline) often has a slightly sweet taste. This sweetness isn’t harmful, but it can make the water taste different from what you're used to. Extreme pH levels can also interact with pipes and minerals, further changing the water’s flavor.
6. Medical conditions or illness
Conditions like diabetes or temporary illnesses can alter how your taste buds send signals to your brain, which might make water taste sweet even when it’s not. Additionally, many medications can interfere with your sense of taste, either dulling it or causing unusual flavors. These changes happen because your body’s chemistry is shifting, and while they’re usually temporary, they can affect how you experience everyday tastes.
7. Hormone imbalances
When your hormones are out of balance, it can mess with how your taste buds work and how your brain processes flavors. This can cause tastes to seem stronger, weaker, or even completely different than usual. Hormonal changes during pregnancy or stress often lead to these temporary taste distortions.
Is sweet-tasting water safe to drink?
Generally, if your water comes from a trusted municipal supply and tastes a bit sweet but looks clear and has no strong odor, it's probably harmless. But if your water comes from a private well, hasn't been tested in a while, or suddenly starts tasting strange, especially if there’s cloudiness, discoloration, or a smell, it’s worth looking into. Water quality can be affected by plumbing, nearby construction, runoff, or aging infrastructure.
The only way to know for sure what's in your water is to get it tested. Home testing kits can be a good starting point, and laboratory tests can provide more thorough results. When it comes to water safety, your taste buds can help, but testing tells the full story.
Address sweet-tasting water with Aquasana
If your water tastes unusually sweet, it may be due to chlorine, organic compounds, or high levels of naturally occurring minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. While it’s always smart to contact your water provider and consider testing your water, the good news is that filtration is often a simple and effective fix. Filters can remove many of the contaminants that contribute to odd or sweet flavors, making it more enjoyable to drink and cook with.
Aquasana offers a range of solutions designed to improve your water quality right at the source. Our whole house systems and under sink filters provide powerful filtration to reduce chlorine, organic matter, and other impurities. For homes dealing with hard water, Aquasana also offers water softeners and a salt-free conditioner to help neutralize excess minerals. With the right system in place, you can enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water throughout your home.
Ready to take control of your water quality? Explore Aquasana’s filtration and softening solutions to enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water in every room of your home. Shop now to find the system that’s right for you.
UNDER SINK WATER FILTER
Claryum® 2-Stage
Reduce 78 contaminants and instantly transform ordinary tap water into clean, extraordinary water.
