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Well Water Tastes Salty, Metallic or Bitter: Causes and Which Tests to Ask For
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Match the taste to the test
| Taste | Possible causes in the sources | Tests the sources suggest |
|---|---|---|
| Salty or brackish | Road salt runoff, nearby salt storage, a well near salt water, an improper water softener setting (Connecticut). Oil and gas activity or injection wells, road salt runoff, water softeners (Oklahoma). | Chloride, sodium, total dissolved solids (Connecticut). Chloride (Iowa, Oklahoma). |
| Metallic | Iron in the water (Oklahoma). Corrosive, low pH water (Connecticut). Copper from household plumbing (Oklahoma). | Iron (Oklahoma). Total dissolved solids, iron, copper, zinc (Iowa). pH, lead, copper (Connecticut). |
| Bitter or medicinal | Corrosive, low pH water (Connecticut). High sulfate (Oklahoma). | pH, lead, copper (Connecticut). Copper, zinc, nitrate (Iowa). Sulfate (Oklahoma). |
| Chemical, fuel or fruity | Leaking fuel tank, spill or runoff (Connecticut). | Volatile organic compounds (Connecticut). See our gas and fuel guide. |
These lists are from three different agencies and they are not exhaustive. Iowa's lab says some problems need testing to find the source.
What the numbers mean
- Chloride. Oklahoma's DEQ gives 250 mg/L as the recommended upper limit. It says concentrations above that can give a salty taste, kill vegetation and cause increased blood pressure.
- Sulfate. Oklahoma gives 250 mg/L as the recommended maximum. It says excess sulfate may act as a laxative to people not used to it.
- pH. Oklahoma says the optimum range is 6.5 to 8.5, and that water below 6.5 is corrosive and can damage plumbing or leach metals from pipes and solder.
- Copper. Oklahoma says the major source in drinking water is corrosion of household plumbing, faucets and fixtures.
- Nitrate. Iowa's lab says nitrate above 10 mg/L as N may pose a serious health hazard for infants. Oklahoma says boiling will not remove nitrate and will increase its concentration. If you have a baby in the house, test.
- Sodium. Oklahoma says sodium comes from road deicing chemicals, water treatment chemicals, water softeners and sewage. If you use a softener, check its settings with the installer (Connecticut lists an improper softener setting as a cause).
What to do
- Note what changed. Oklahoma and Connecticut both say a change in taste, color or odor is a reason to test. Was it after a repair, a flood, road salting season, or new neighbors drilling or storing something? (The last part is our prompt; the agencies list these as possible sources.)
- Call your local health department. Connecticut says to do this whenever taste, color, odor or clarity changes.
- Use a state-certified lab and ask for the tests that match your taste. Oklahoma notes its own Water Wellness panel covers chloride, conductivity, copper, hardness, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate/nitrite, pH, sodium and sulfate. Your state lab may offer something similar.
- Fix it after the report, not before. Treatment depends on what the lab finds. Low pH, high chloride and nitrate each need a different approach.
Start with a test
A state-certified lab test is the starting point for everything on this site. A home kit can be a cheap first screen, but it does not replace a lab test for anything health-related.
What to test for and how oftenSee home screening kitsCommon questions
Why does my well water taste salty?
Connecticut's health department lists road salt runoff, nearby salt storage, a well near salt water and an improper water softener setting as possible causes, and says to test for chloride, sodium and total dissolved solids. Oklahoma's DEQ says chloride above its 250 mg/L recommended upper limit can give water a salty taste, and lists oil and gas activity, road salt and water softeners as sources.
Why does my well water taste metallic?
Oklahoma's DEQ says to test for iron if the water tastes metallic, and Iowa's State Hygienic Laboratory says to request total dissolved solids, iron, copper and zinc tests. Connecticut's health department says a bitter or metallic taste can come from corrosive (low pH) water, and says to test pH, lead and copper.
Why does my well water taste bitter?
Connecticut says corrosive, low pH water can give a bitter, metallic taste. Oklahoma's DEQ says a bitter or medicinal taste is often associated with high sulfate (recommended maximum 250 mg/L). Iowa says to request copper, zinc and nitrate tests.
Is a bad taste a health risk?
Not always, but you cannot tell by taste. Oklahoma's DEQ says the secondary standards cover appearance, taste and odor and are not considered to present a risk to human health at or below the standard. Iowa's lab says nitrate above 10 mg/L as N may pose a serious health hazard for infants. Test to find out.
What should I do first?
Connecticut's health department says that whenever you notice a change in taste, color, odor or clarity, contact your local health department for help. Then use a state-certified lab and ask for the tests that match the taste.
Related guides
- Well water testing: what, when and how often
- Iron in well water: orange stains and fixes
- Well water smells like gas or fuel
- What's wrong with my well water? (checker)
Free printable: Well Water Test Planner
What to test for, when, and how to get a good lab sample. Download the one-page PDF now, or get it by email along with a short series of five helpful emails.