General Guides

How to Make Tap Water Taste Better? [With Filter and Without Filter]

Water is one of the most essential things for living beings. Without it, life may not survive on this planet. Although more than 70% earth surface is covered by water, potable water is not plenty. 

In order to stay healthy, we need pure and fresh water which is drinkable. In the early days water was cleaner than what it is today. Due to pollution, and industrial wastes, the grounded water is being contaminated with lots of different particulate matters and chemicals. Thus, we cannot just drink water after taking it out from the earth. We need to purify it first in order to make it drinkable, and thus, we must know how to make tap water taste better too because when it tastes better, we can drink plenty of it to stay well-hydrated all day long.

At times, even though water is drinkable, it doesn’t taste good. If you are living in an area with a high level of chlorine, water may taste not so well. Apart from chlorine, there may be different matters that may get mixed with water to make it taste bad. Sometimes, the earthy material, Sulfur also gets mixed with water, and gives it a rotten odor which is so bad that you might not feel like drinking that water.

Most of the time, the water gets mixed with different earthy materials that make it taste bad but still safe to drink. But, even if it is safe, when it tastes or smells so bad, we may not be able to drink it in plenty which will lead to dehydration.

Thus, we have to find ways to make the tap water taste better.

When we get water from taps it may either be coming from Earth or Municipal. If it is from Municipal, it is already treated water that is ready to drink. But, if it is directly coming from the earth, you may need to purify it.


Why Tap Water Doesn’t Taste Great?


As already said above water gets mixed with some earthy materials or chemicals that make it taste bad and sometimes smell bad too. As in case of getting mixed with Sulfur. It oxidizes and produces a rotten odour. High chlorine levels also make them taste bad

When you get water from municipal, they do add chlorine tablets into water to kill the bacteria that may be there in the tank or pipelines. But, if that is done in excess, water tastes bad.


The Benefits of Drinking More Water


Water is essential for life. Every cell, tissue, and organ in our body needs water to work properly. 

For example, water:

  • Carries nutrients to your cells
  • Flushes toxins out of your system
  • Moistens your mouth, eyes, and nose
  • Regulates your body temperature
  • Lubricates your joints
  • Helps digest food

Despite its importance, many people don’t drink enough water. In fact, According to the lay press, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

There are many health benefits of drinking more water. Drinking plenty of water can help:

  • Maintain a healthy weight    
  • Prevent or treat constipation
  • Promote healthy skin
  • Prevent kidney stones
  • Reduce the risk of bladder infections
  • Boost cognitive performance

If you’re not sure how much water you should be drinking, a good rule of thumb is to drink at least 2 liters of water every day. You may need to drink more water if you’re sweating heavily or have diarrhea. Moreover, whenever there is a need and you feel, you should drink it.


Reasons for Bad Tasting Tap Water


Chlorine

Chlorine works as a disinfectant, and in the cities, chlorine is mixed in to supply water to kill the bacteria. But, with the benefits, it gets the bad taste as well. The simple solution is to get Carbon Water Filter. It will remove the chlorine taste, and make the water taste better.

Dirty or fishy taste

Minerals, earthy substances, algae, etc. are mixed with water to give it a dirty or fishy taste. This can be treated with RO water filters or Ceramic water filters.

Gasoline Taste

If your tap water tastes like Gasoline, it can be a serious issue. It can be because of some chemicals or fuel get mixed with water. It might be because of a pipeline leak or something. In this situation, just stop drinking that water, call the plumber or your local water authority, and get everything tested properly.

Metal taste

Iron, magnesium, or Zinc may get mixed with the water and gives a metallic taste to the water. Although such water is safe to drink, you can use RO water filter to remove the metal taste so that you would be able to drink plenty of water.

Salty taste

If you live in a coastal area this might happen to you because chloride ions get mixed with the water, and gives a salty taste. You can use RO water filter to remove the salty taste

Sweet taste

When calcium and iron get mixed with water, gives a sweet taste to it which is completely safe to drink but if you want your water to not taste like this, you can use RO filter. Moreover, a ceramic filter would work as well.

Bitter Taste

Water that has high TDS(Total Dissolved Solids) is called hard water, and it tastes bitter. You can get a TDS meter from Amazon, and you can test your water if its TDS is good. A RO water filter is the best solution for this.

These are the different types of bad-tasting water, and their solution with the water filters that make water taste better.


How to Make Tap Water Taste Better?


Although there are ways that we will be discussing further in this article, the highly recommended method is to install RO purifier in your house and enjoy pure water with good taste.

Installing RO Filter (Reverse Osmosis Filters)

As we have seen most types of bad-tasting water have one common solution, RO Water Filter. This is one type of water filter that makes water taste better. And, this is exactly the solution if you are looking for how to make your tap water taste like bottled water. Because bottled water that you get from the market is RO purified only.

Although some bad tastes can be removed with Carbon or ceramic water filters as well, the RO filter is the best of all as it can do everything that other filters (carbon or ceramic filters) can do. So, why not install an RO water filter to tackle all types of water-related problems.

I have installed an RO water purifier in my house, and it does the work so well. It makes water taste good, and has no smell at all. It is quite affordable too. However, different RO filters can have different prices.

This is the best solution if your tap water tastes bad, it also reduces the TDS level of the water to safe limits. Moreover, if you are not ready to go with the RO filter, there are a few temporary solutions that you can try to make your tap water taste better.


How to Make Tap Water Taste Better Without a Filter?


Boiling the Water [Improve the water taste without adding anything]

Boiling may not be able to remove all the contaminants from your tap water but to some extent, it kills harmful bacteria. And, while boiling many chemical contaminants are evaporated. Now, make sure to strain the boiled water before drinking. Boiling the water changes the taste of water to some extent along with removing some contaminants as well. This is how to make water taste better without adding anything.

Use citrus peel for a natural flavoring

Although it is a temporary solution, it can work well. When you mix some citrus peel to your water, it adds flavor to your water. Technically, it doesn’t change the taste of the water but it adds citrus flavor which when you drink, will taste better.

Apart from Citrus, you can also try some natural herbs to add flavor to your water.

Add mint for a crisp taste

Mint taste is crisp, and when it is mixed with water, it makes the taste of water crisp as well. So, you don;t notice the bad taste of water while drinking.

Add cucumber or Lemon to reduce the smell of chlorine

Chlorine smell and taste can be overcome by adding cucumber or lemon to your tap water.


The Importance of Filtered Water


Unfiltered water may have so many different types of impurities that may affect your health. Thus, it is important to filter your drinking water.  

Below are a few importances of filtered water:

  1. Filtered water can help to improve the quality of your drinking water by removing impurities and contaminants.
  2. Filtered water can also help to improve the taste of your water, making it more palatable and enjoyable to drink.
  3. Filtered water can also help to extend the shelf life of your water by removing harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause spoilage.
  4. Filtered water can also help to protect your teeth and gums by removing plaque-forming bacteria and other harmful materials from your drinking water.
  5. Finally, filtered water can also help save money by reducing the need for bottled water or other costly purified water products.

Ways To Filter Your Water


Get a water filter pitcher

Water filter pitchers are the most common way to filter your water. They typically cost between $10 and $40 and last for about 2 months before needing to be replaced. All you need to do is pour water into the top, let it filter through, and then drink from the spout.

Use a faucet-mounted filter

Faucet-mounted filters are less common but still quite popular. As the name suggests, they attach directly to your kitchen sink faucet. They’re easy to install (usually just a matter of screwing it on) and can last up to 3 months before needing to be replaced.

Use a countertop water filter

Countertop water filters are similar to pitcher filters, but they’re larger and have to be placed on the counter. They typically cost between $60 and $200 and last for about 6 months before needing to be replaced.

Install a whole-house water filter

If you want filtered water throughout your entire home, you’ll need to install a whole-house water filter. These filters are typically installed near your main water line and can remove contaminants from all the water in your home. They’re more expensive than other types of filters (typically costing between $600 and $1,500), but they also last much longer (up to 10 years).

Use bottled water

If you don’t want to filter your own water, you can always buy bottled water. This is the most expensive option, but it’s also the most convenient. Just make sure to check the labels to ensure you’re buying water that’s actually filtered.


Tips For Making Water More Enjoyable To Drink


  • Add Some Flavor: Adding some fruit or herbs to your water can give it a subtle flavor and make it more enjoyable to drink.
  • Make It Cold: Some people find that cold water is more refreshing and enjoyable to drink than room temperature or warm water.
  • Use a straw: Sipping your water through a straw can make it feel more like a treat than a chore.
use straw to drink water
Photo: Pexels
  • Drink Out of A Fun Glass: Using a fun or unique glass can make drinking water more enjoyable. If you don’t have any fun glasses, try adding some ice cubes or fruit slices to plain old water to dress it up.
  • Set a Goal: Challenging yourself to drink a certain amount of water each day can make it more enjoyable because you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you reach your goal.
  • Find a Workout Buddy: Having someone to drink water with can make it more enjoyable and motivating. You can encourage each other to stay hydrated and cheers each other on when you hit your daily goals.
  • Track Your Progress: Keeping track of how much water you’re drinking can help you see your progress and be motivated to keep going. There are lots of great apps and water bottles that can help you track your intake.
  • Make a Game Out Of It: Turn drinking water into a game or competition with yourself or your friends and family. See who can drink the most water in a day or week.
  • Give Yourself A Reward: Treat yourself to something special after you reach your water drinking goals. This could be a new water bottle, a fitness tracker, or a piece of jewelry.
  • Find What Works For You: Ultimately, you need to find what works best for you when it comes to making water more enjoyable to drink. Try out different techniques and find the ones that work best for you. Drink up and stay hydrated!

Final Words

We come to a conclusion that for several water issues, the solution is to filter the water using a RO filtration system. That can make your tap water taste better, and also make it safe to drink.

It is important to filter the water not just for improving the taste but to increase the safety levels too. Contaminated water can cause a number of serious health problems, so it’s important to make sure your drinking water is as clean and safe as possible. By following these tips, you can easily filter your water at home and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your family are drinking safe, clean water.

About the author

Atish Ranjan

Atish Ranjan is the founder of WaterBrower. The water-related problems faced by him in his childhood led him to take this kind initiative to help many others who might be facing similar problems. He has been into research and water testing wherein he has found great water treatment solutions in different regions of the world. This blog is about everything that he has learnt during this study. Hope it helps many:)

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