How To Make Tap Water Taste Better

Unpleasant tap water taste can result from a variety of natural and environmental factors. While chlorine aftertastes, metallic notes or earthy undertones might make your water unappealing, these flavors often signal water problems that filtration systems can address.

In this guide, we’ll explore why tap water develops distinct tastes, how targeted filtration solutions address these issues at their source and practical steps to make your water cleaner and better-tasting.

Filtration: The Top Solution for Improving Tap Water Taste

Filtration systems reduce contaminants that contribute to undesirable tastes while improving water clarity and safety. However, the right solution depends on your water’s unique composition.*

Here’s how filtration works and why testing your water composition is critical:

Types of Filtration Systems

• Pitcher and Refrigerator Filters: Basic pitcher filters and refrigerator filters commonly use activated carbon to reduce chlorine, a common culprit of chemical tastes. These filter solutions are ideal for mild issues, but they also require frequent cartridge replacements and may miss other underlying water quality issues.
• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: Typically installed under sinks, reverse osmosis filtration systems like Culligan’s Aquasential® Reverse Osmosis Systems combine multiple stages of filtration. For the Culligan system, these include:

1. Carbon Pre-Filter: Reduces chlorine and sediment
2. Semipermeable RO Membrane: Rejects dissolved solids, salts and heavy metals
3. Additional options: The Total Defense® cartridge can address pharmaceuticals, PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while the Advanced Post Tank Filter is certified to reduce viruses and bacteria. Others are available as well.

These systems provide comprehensive filtration that address both unpleasant taste and odors as well as contaminants that may cause health concerns.

• Whole-House Filtration: Whole-house systems treat water at its entry point for homes with well water, pervasive taste or odor concerns, or contaminants like arsenic, nitrate or PFAS. These systems can tackle issues like sediment, iron and hydrogen sulfide (responsible for rotten-egg odors), ensuring better-tasting water from every tap.

H3: Why Test Your Water Quality?

Before choosing a water filter, it’s best to test your tap water to understand what’s causing issues. Municipal water may contain chlorine or mineral imbalances, while well water often has sulfur or iron. A free Culligan in-home water test can identify specific quality issues affecting taste, such as:

• Chlorine (chemical aftertaste)
• Hydrogen sulfide (rotten-egg odor)
• Iron (metallic taste)
• Dissolved minerals (metallic or bitter flavors)

It’s also important to note that some contaminants, like PFAS, lack taste and still pose health risks. Culligan’s RO systems with Total Defense are certified to reduce PFAS and other emerging contaminants, providing comprehensive protection alongside better-tasting water.

Testing ensures your filtration system targets the root cause. For example, reverse osmosis systems often use carbon pre-filters to effectively reduce chlorine flavors, while specialized whole-house filters can target sulfur odors and other aesthetic water issues beyond the sink.

What Gives Tap Water Its Taste?

Tap water’s flavor is shaped by natural minerals, environmental factors and human intervention. For example:

• Metallic flavors may indicate iron in your water source, or corroded pipes leaching lead or copper.
• Earthy odors could point to algae blooms in source water.
• A salty aftertaste might suggest chloride intrusion from road salt or seawater.

Understanding these variables helps explain why water might taste different in your home versus a neighbor’s — or even from one glass to another.

Below, we break down the key contributors to tap water taste and their origins:

Source Water Composition

Water’s journey begins at its source, whether underground aquifers, rivers or reservoirs. Natural minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron dissolve into the water, creating subtle flavors. For example, calcium carbonate can impart a slightly sweet or neutral taste, while iron often adds metallic undertones. According to a 2020 study, dissolved minerals are the primary drivers of regional variations in drinking water flavor.

Municipal Treatment Chemicals

To help ensure safety, municipalities in the U.S. and Canada treat water with disinfectants like chlorine or chloramine. While these chemicals eliminate harmful bacteria, they can leave a lingering chemical aftertaste reminiscent of swimming pools. Chlorine also reacts with organic matter in pipes, forming disinfection byproducts that may contribute to earthy or medicinal flavors.

Aging Home Plumbing

Older pipes made of copper, lead or galvanized steel can corrode over time, leaching metals into your water. For instance, copper pipes may introduce bitter notes, while corroded iron pipes can create a rusty, metallic flavor.

Dissolved Minerals and pH Levels

Water’s pH (a measure of acidity or alkalinity) plays a critical role in taste perception. A study in Aqua found that water with a pH below 6.5 (acidic) often tastes bitter, sharp or sour, while alkaline water (pH above 8.5) may taste like baking soda and coat the mouth. (Issues with pH are most likely to occur in well water.)

Sulfur Compounds and Odor

Hydrogen sulfide, a gas produced by bacteria and decaying organic matter in groundwater, gives water a distinct rotten-egg odor. While the sulfur bacteria are not inherently harmful, this odor often accompanies a sulfuric or “swampy” taste. Well water is particularly susceptible, as noted in our guide to rotten egg smells in water.

Environmental Contaminants

Runoff from industrial sites or farms can also introduce chemicals like pesticides, nitrates or PFAS into water supplies. Though many lack flavor, some — such as benzene (a VOC) — impart a sweet odor or taste.

5 Ways To Improve Your Tap Water’s Taste

Combining advanced filtration with everyday adjustments can transform the taste of your tap water.

Here are a few practical solutions to help you enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water:

1. Choose the Right Filtration System for Your Needs

Culligan offers tailored filtration solutions to address diverse water quality challenges. The best system for improving taste depends on your water’s unique composition, household size and usage habits.

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems remain the gold standard for improving tap water taste and addressing a wide range of contaminants. By combining multiple filtration stages, these systems offer a comprehensive solution for your tap water.

Many homeowners choose Culligan’s Aquasential® Smart RO Drinking Water System, which can also include a remineralization stage. This can restore natural flavor to filtered water by adding minerals back into your drinking water, creating a refreshing, balanced taste.

Whole-house water filtration systems are also available for customers who have water issues that impact more than drinking water. This includes problems like chlorine and sulfur that also impact cleaning and bathing, as well as those with potentially serious health impacts like arsenic, nitrate and PFAS.

2. Use Fridge or Pitcher Filters for Basic Improvements

Filters such as standard refrigerator options or water filter pitchers offer a quick, cost-effective way to reduce chlorine and sediment. These systems work by passing water through activated carbon, which adsorbs impurities responsible for chemical tastes and odors. They’re particularly useful for renters and those unable to install permanent solutions.

However, these filters have limitations. Cartridges require replacement every 40–60 gallons, and they may not address contaminants like PFAS or heavy metals.

3. Infuse Water With Natural Flavors

Masking unpleasant tastes with natural additives is a safe, sugar-free way to enhance the taste of plain water:

• Citrus or Cucumber: Add lemon, lime or cucumber slices for a refreshing twist. However, acidic ingredients like lemon juice can amplify metallic tastes in water with low pH.
• Herbs: Fresh mint or basil introduces aromatic complexity to help mask earthy flavors.
• Frozen Berries: Blueberries or strawberries infuse water with mild sweetness and natural flavor without artificial additives.

4. Chill or Aerate Your Water

Simple adjustments to temperature and oxygenation can significantly improve taste perception. For instance, cold water suppresses bitterness and salinity. Store filtered water in the refrigerator for at least two hours before drinking. For quicker results, add ice made from filtered water (avoid tap ice cubes, which may reintroduce unpleasant tastes).

Additionally, aerating water by pouring vigorously between pitchers can release dissolved gases like hydrogen sulfide, which contribute to sulfuric or “rotten-egg” odors. This method is particularly effective for well water users.

5. Address Plumbing and Water Supply Issues

Persistent flavors often stem from infrastructure challenges, such as:

• Corroded Pipes: Older copper or galvanized steel pipes can leach metals, causing bitter or metallic tastes. Consider repiping with PVC or PEX materials.
• Hard Water: Install a water softener to reduce calcium and magnesium, which leave chalky residues around your home.
• Stagnant Water: Flush taps for 30–60 seconds after periods of inactivity to clear stagnant water trapped in pipes.

For systemic issues, a Culligan expert can assess your water supply and recommend solutions like whole-house filtration or pipe lining to protect your water-using appliances and improve taste.

Improve Your Drinking Water Flavor and Quality

Whether you’re battling chlorine aftertastes, metallic notes or sulfur odors, the right solution starts with understanding what’s in your water.

Start with a free water test to identify the causes of unpleasant taste and other water quality concerns. From there, your local Culligan expert can recommend customized water filtration solutions, including drinking water systems, reverse osmosis or whole-house filters. They can also advise on addressing hard water or infrastructure issues that may be affecting your water flavor.

Ready for better-tasting tap water? Schedule your free, in-home water test and consultation today.

*Contaminants may not be present in your water.