Water has no taste – so say our science textbooks. But, there are cases where you may find that your water tastes sweet. Well, do not fret or feel weird. It is true that water tastes sweet at times. Have you ever wondered why your water tastes sweet? Let us find the answers to those questions.
Water can taste sweet for a variety of reasons. The primary reason for the water tasting sweet can include the minerals in the water, algal blooms, metals, and other contaminants. It may also be noted that while the water may taste sweet, it may be harmful to your body.
Why Does Water Taste Sweet?
One of the primary reasons for the water tasting sweet can include an excess amount of minerals. While it is normal for water to have minerals in it, an excessive amount of minerals may not be something practical. A high quantity of calcium and iron can be the prime cause of the sweet taste of your water supply.
Some of the possible reasons for the water to taste sweet include:
Your water supply contains chlorine
If your water supply is sourced from the municipality or city water supply, it may contain chlorine to kill the microorganisms. When used in a lower concentration, chlorine can give your water a sweet taste. This may taste something like table sugar. However, excess chlorine can make the water to taste bitter, metallic, or like bleach.
There are a few other factors that make chlorine affect the taste of water. These factors may be dependent on several factors such as temperature, pH, chemicals, and other factors.
Your water may contain a high mineral content.
A high mineral content in your water supply can result in a sweet taste in your water supply. As the water moves through rocks and soil, it may bring along with it many minerals which ultimately dissolve in water.
Some of the minerals that cause the sweetness include calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonates. While they make your water hard, they also add a little sweeter taste to the water. That should explain why well water or spring water tastes sweeter than the municipal water supply.
However, if the mineral levels go too high, they can cause a salty taste in your water supply. The sweet taste in water caused by minerals may appear somewhat chalky or mineral-like.
The main reason the minerals in water cause sweet taste is that they stimulate the same receptors on your tongue which are used for detecting sweet taste.
You may be on medication, or it may be a health condition
This is yet another reason why water tastes sweet. Though out of the context of water technology, it can be a possible cause for water tasting sweet to you. However, if everyone else in your household or workplace feels the same about the sweet taste, that may perhaps be an issue with the water itself.
Antibiotics and allergy tablets can make the water taste sweet. These medications tend to alter the perception of the taste in the brain. Metabolic illnesses such as diabetes can cause the water to taste sweet. In diabetes, you have blood sugar levels higher than normal. If you have diabetes, you feel every food tastes sweet – not only water.
It may be a plumbing issue.
The sweet taste in water may also be due to the plumbing issue in your home. Water can – over time- eat away the metal elements from the pipes, and these dissolved metals can cause the water to taste sweet.
This can be a common issue with the pipes made from iron, copper, lead, and galvanized steel. Lead is another metal that can give your water a sweet taste. PVC pipes may not have this issue, but they do not give a sweet taste to your water.
Contact with gasoline, oils, and solvents can also make the water to taste sweet.
Build up of Biofilms inside the pipes.
Biofilms refer to the slimy layers of bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and other microorganisms. This will cause a low-flow, moist environment inside the pipes.
As per some reports, it is observed that “certain type of bacteria [found in biofilm] produces compounds that cause sweet taste receptors”.
Your tap water may be contaminated.
The tap water that tastes sweet can also be due to the contaminants in the water. Some of these contaminants can include ethanol, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, or glycolic acid. These chemicals make the water toxic and impart a sweet taste to the water.
Chemicals from factories, gas stations, airports, or car shops can also contaminate the nearby water sources.
How Can You Remove The Sweet Taste From Water?
The best way to find the actual cause of the sweet taste in your water supply is to get the water tested. It is advisable to get the water tested at regular intervals if it happens to be the well water.
Another best way to get rid of the sweet taste of water is to install whole-house water filtration or under-the-sink filters for drinking water.
Depending on what is causing the sweet taste in water, you can apply the relevant remedies.
Chlorine
If you find it is the chlorine that is causing the sweet taste in water, boiling the water can be an excellent option. You can boil the water for 5 to 10 minutes and then let it sit down for around 8 to 12 hours.
Using an activated carbon filter may also be an excellent option to remove chlorine from the water.
High mineral water content
If the sweet water taste is caused by high mineral content, installing a water softener would be the right remedial action. It can help reduce the concentration of calcium and magnesium.
Health conditions
If the water tastes sweet due to health conditions and medications, you may need to consult your doctor immediately. They should be able to help you with the necessary treatment plan to address the issue.
Plumbing issue
Run the water supply to full. The high pressure can help get rid of the particles and eliminate them. Change your plumbing if required.
Is Sweet-Tasting Water Safe to Drink?
Sweet-tasting water is safe to drink unless it contains lead. It is, therefore, essential to get your water tested to understand the actual cause of the sweet taste. The mineral such as zinc can produce a sweet taste, but in such cases, the water may not be much harmful to drink.
In any case, we recommend getting the water tested to ensure a better resolution. Too much concentration of minerals may be harmful.
Final Thoughts
A sweet taste in water may not be something you can expect, but you may sometimes feel it. It is also not necessary that the water is always sweet, but it might also be something that you ate just before drinking water or a medication that may be causing the issue.
However, if it is the water itself, it may be caused by issues such as chlorine, a high mineral content, plumbing issues, and many external conditions. The best way to find the actual cause is to get your water tested and then apply the necessary actions.
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