High concentrations of naturally occurring minerals or a pH imbalance are the most common causes of a sweet taste in tap water. While neither is cause for alarm, it is important to quickly identify the source of the sweet taste in the unlikely event of water contamination that could pose a health risk.
Where Does The Sweetness in My Water Come from?
Depending on your location, your tap water may contain traces of minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and others. If there are higher concentrations of certain minerals. They can cause a wide range of tastes if consumed by someone with a particularly sensitive palate.
Your water will have a sweet taste if you have the right balance of potassium and sodium, for example. However, if you live in an area with very hard water, the high mineral content may make the water taste less pleasant or saltier.
If naturally occurring trace minerals are not the cause of the sweet taste, your plumbing may be to blame. Metalwork can introduce substances into your water that change the taste, regardless of how old your pipes are. If this is the case, you should simply run your faucets for an extended period of time to clean out the system and “freshen up” the taste of your drinking water.
It is possible that the sweet tasting water is due to something you ate that day. A sip of water refreshes your sweet taste receptors after eating bitter or sour foods, which makes you feel sweet. You may also mistake a sweet smell for a sweet taste. This pleasant scent in the air can fool your senses into thinking that the water is sweet.
Is There Anything to Fear with This Sweet Taste?
In most cases, you should not worry, but if your water tastes sweet all the time, you should see a doctor. Here are some factors that can contribute to a persistent sweet taste:
- Neurological conditions
- Diabetes
- Infections
- Low-carb dieting
- Lung Cancer
- Ketoacidosis
- Pregnancy
- Medications
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
If your water suddenly begins to taste sweet, you should investigate whether diabetes is to blame. Diabetes affects insulin levels in the blood, which in turn affects blood sugar levels in the body. Your blood sugar levels may rise if your body is unable to produce insulin properly.
Why Does Water Taste Sweet?
Simple infections like the flu, a sinus infection, or a cold can cause saliva to contain more glucose. Glucose is a sugar that gives the mouth a sweet taste. If this is the case, treatment will eliminate this taste.
Tips to Improve The Quality of Your Drinking Water
If the taste of your water bothers you, here are some things you can do to improve it:
- Clean the pipes and other fixtures that may add unwanted minerals to your water.
- To get rid of the bad taste and smell of regular tap water, use aeration and activated carbon filtration.
- Chlorination should be done every 3 to 4 months.
- Bring a water dispenser with filtered water to balance out the sweetness. This can also help improve the overall quality of the drinking water in your home.
- Add alkaline minerals to your water to make it healthier by adjusting the pH.
- Manganese, iron and sulfur removal can also be achieved with air injections. This is a bit more expensive, but it is for the fluid of life. Therefore, every dollar you spend is an investment in you and your family.
Reverse Osmosis
For both city and well water treatment, reverse osmosis is one of the most effective options for home water filtration.
With reverse osmosis, water is filtered through multiple stages and a semi-permeable membrane. Only the smallest water particles can pass through this membrane, which acts like a barrier to the rest of the world.
A reverse osmosis system can remove everything, including chemicals and minerals that might contribute to the sweetness of your water. However, because it removes the impurities that contribute to alkalinity, this system can lead to a pH imbalance. After reverse osmosis, you may get acidic water with a slightly sour taste.
pH Neutralization
Finally, pH neutralization, also known as pH correction, is a water treatment option that can bring your water’s pH back to ideal.
If you have determined that your sweet water problem is due to a pH imbalance, pH neutralization should fix the problem.
Keep in mind that many pH neutralizers also add beneficial minerals to your water. This will give your water a sweet, alkaline taste that you may not like.