Why Does My Water Taste Sweet?

When you turn on your tap, you expect clean, tasteless, and refreshing water to come out. But sometimes you might notice something unusual: your tap water tastes sweet. If you’ve ever experienced a sweet taste while drinking tap water, it can be surprising and even a little bit concerning. So, what does it mean when water tastes sweet? In many cases, there isn’t cause for concern. There are actually quite a few reasons your water tastes sweet, and those factors can range from harmless to potentially serious. Fortunately, there are solutions available to combat sweet-tasting water. 

Water Test and Survey

Common Reasons for Sweet Tap Water

Anything from your health and well-being to contaminants in water can impact how your water tastes, including its perceived sweetness. Some of these factors are less severe than others, so it’s important to understand some common causes to help determine what’s actually impacting your water’s taste. 

Chlorine

If you get your water from a city or municipality, it’s possible the sweet taste might come from chlorine. Chlorine is found in city water supplies across the country, as it’s added in regulated doses as a disinfectant to eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms. At low concentrations, some people may find that chlorine shares a similar taste to artificial sweeteners. At higher concentrations, chlorine in water may taste bitter or metallic. 

Dissolved Minerals

Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate often give water a slightly sweet and chalky taste. This is especially common for those with hard water. Hard water, which affects roughly 85% of the United States, contains higher concentrations of these minerals. If you notice signs of hard water in your home, such as white, chalky residue on surfaces, limescale buildup in pipes or appliances, dry skin and hair, or poorly lathering soap, hard water might explain the sweet taste from your tap. 

Eating Before Drinking

Eating foods high in sugar, salt, citric acid, or artificial sweeteners can coat your taste buds, making even usually tasteless substances like water seem sweet. This effect can last up to an hour after eating. To see if this is the cause, rinse your mouth out with water and wait a while before drinking tap water again. 

Medications and Health Conditions

Sometimes the sweet taste you notice isn’t actually because of your tap water. Your taste receptors may only perceive sweet-tasting water because of medications or health conditions. Medications like antibiotics, antihistamines, and blood pressure drugs can affect your taste buds, leading to a sweeter taste in water. Diabetes, high blood sugar, ketosis, or hormonal imbalances may also cause water to taste sweeter than it really is. Even common infections like a cold or flu can alter your taste due to changes in saliva and airway irritation. 

Plumbing Issues

Pipes made from materials like lead, iron, copper, or galvanized steel are susceptible to damage from water over time, especially when water is slightly acidic. As water eats away at pipes, they begin to corrode and leach small amounts of rust. As rust dissolves into your water, the dissolved iron may cause a sweetened taste similar to other minerals. This is particularly common in older homes that still have lead pipes. Another potential culprit is biofilm in your pipes. This slimy substance is made up of bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms in low-flow, moist conditions. Therefore, pipes are a perfect breeding ground. Bacteria in biofilm react with organic matter in water, which sometimes produces sweet-tasting compounds. Ensuring your pipes are clean and corrosion-free can help limit sweet-tasting tap water. 

Industrial Runoff Contamination

While chemicals like chlorine are safe to consume at regulated doses, other chemicals that can enter water systems aren’t. Industrial chemicals and compounds like ethanol and formaldehyde sometimes contaminate water supplies through chemical spills and other groundwater pollution. This is especially concerning for homeowners who rely on private wells since homeowners are responsible for maintaining their own systems. If your tap water’s taste changes suddenly and your neighbors experience the same issue, chemical contamination could be the culprit. 

What to Do If Tap Water Tastes Sweet

If you suspect your tap water tastes sweet for reasons other than personal health or dietary factors, there are a few steps you can take. If you rely on city water, reach out to your local water authority and request a water quality report. These are also usually available online on your municipal water’s website. These reports list contaminants found in your water, as well as their concentrations. Well users must conduct water quality testing on their own through a certified laboratory to identify potential pollutants. At-home water test kits are easy to use and send in. If water test reports indicate the presence of impurities in your water, you may want to consider purchasing your own filtration system. Whole house and under-the-sink systems are two of the best options available on the market today. 

Filtration Solutions for Sweet-Tasting Water

Whole house water systems and reverse osmosis (RO) filters can offer your home additional protection against hazardous contaminants.  Whole house water filters treat all water flowing into your home, providing cleaner water at every faucet and appliance. These systems reduce a wide range of contaminants, including sediment and chemicals, improving your water’s taste and odor. RO systems are point-of-use filters installed under sinks to improve water quality. They use advanced filtration to remove up to 99% of contaminants while maintaining healthy mineral levels.  

• Shop Kind Water’s Whole House Water Filter for City Water   
• Shop Kind Water’s Whole House Combo for Private Wells  
• Shop Kind Water’s 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System