With headlines around the country this year about lead in drinking water, people are worried. They want to know if there’s a metallic taste in their water, do they need to be concerned about lead? Or can they smell lead? What if their water has taste and odor problems—do they need to panic?
No one wants to drink water that tastes or smells bad, and everyone wants water that’s safe to use and drink.
Lead
The good news is that if your water has a metallic taste, it’s not lead. You can’t see lead, taste it, or smell it if it’s in your drinking water, which may be why the lead in Flint, Michigan’s drinking water went undetected by the masses for so long.
The EPA sets safe levels for contaminants in drinking water—the goal level for lead is zero. In children, even low-level lead exposure can cause lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, anemia, behavior and learning problems, and shorter stature. In pregnant women, lead exposure may lead to reduced growth of the baby and premature birth. In adults, lead can cause cardiovascular problems, decreased kidney function, and reproductive issues.
How to Detect Lead
Testing is the only way to detect lead in water. Your local drinking water authority has a list of certified labs to test your water if you’re worried about lead. You also can look up your area’s Consumer Confidence Report that tells you where your water comes from and what’s in it.
If your water has a strange smell or taste, it’s not a bad idea to call your local water treatment plant. But a flavor or odor may not signal a serious problem.
Taste and Odor
Even though it may not signal danger, taste and smell play an important role in culinary water for consumers.
If your water is coming out of the faucet with a scent, you’ve got a problem. It could be an algae bloom at the source. Or maybe it’s something in the plant’s pipes or filters. But you don’t care; you just want your water back to normal.
And there’s probably no place where a sulfur-y smell is welcome, but for sure it’s never wanted in culinary water. The smell indicates something’s wrong, even if it’s not harmful. There may be bacteria somewhere in the plant causing the odor problem. Or it could be hydrogen sulfide in the plumbing. Maybe it’s not a rotten-egg smell, but a moldy scent.
No one should gag on a scent or taste when they put a glass of water to their lips. You don’t want to drink stinky, yucky water—even if it’s safe—and neither do your customers.
Your Rx
Call Innova, and we’ll get your stinky, bad-flavored water back to what it should be—tasteless and odorless.
We’ll begin with a detailed analysis of your plant so we can isolate what’s causing your taste and odor issues. Our customized specialty chemistry will get your plant back on track. Our algaecides and bactericides are rated safe for use in drinking water. Once we pinpoint your problems, we’ll apply the right chemistry to quickly and easily solve the issue. You’ll be back to crisp, clean, clear, and refreshing water in no time. And the only reason your customers will call is to tell you how amazing your water tastes.
