With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
As human beings, we rely on a source of clean drinking water each day to stay fit and healthy. If we don’t have water to drink, it can have a dramatic effect on our lives and it could be fatal in just a few days. For these reasons, we have seen an upsurge in the popularity of drinking water over other less healthy beverages that contain sugar and caffeine. People seem to want to make healthier hydration choices, but we shouldn’t have to sacrifice taste. In this article, we will take a look at some drinking water choices to try and discover the best tasting water.
Taste is Subjective
This is true, it’s important to note that two different people can have a very different reaction to a taste or smell. When we drink simple tap water we may believe that it tastes like water, but is that really true? The public water we receive is cleaned to a basic standard to ensure that it’s safe to drink. This involves some filtration and disinfection chemicals such as chlorine or chloramine (chlorine and ammonia) to kill microorganisms. So, what you think of as the natural taste of water is affected by chemical byproducts and contaminants that are not removed by the water treatment plant. These tastes and to a certain extent, the odors of the content in the water will affect the taste.
Water is a Solvent
Many people are unaware that water is a highly effective solvent and given enough time it can dissolve many materials that it comes into contact with. After water falls as rain on the ground, it soaks into the earth and it passes through various strata of rock and soil. During this journey to surface waterways or underground aquifers, it will take on some characteristics of materials it passes through. When water is affected by natural and man-made substances and materials, it can affect the health and taste of the water. This is why natural mineral water is highly regarded but there may be other contaminants present.
3 Common Drinking Water Tastes
As we’ve seen, the taste of your drinking water is important because hydration is vital for health and wellbeing. After all, if your water tastes bad you won’t want to drink it and you won’t get the hydration that you need. This is especially true if you have kids that can have a very immediate reaction to drinks that have a bad taste. The three most common drinking water options are: tap, spring and mineral water. Let’s take a look at them in more detail:
1. Tap Water
As we mentioned earlier, basic tap water is affected by the chemicals used during the disinfection process. Certain contaminants are not removed and these can also affect the taste. If you regularly drink tap water, you may not notice the taste much, but some people pass their water through a filter jug to make it taste better.
2. Spring Water
As its name suggests, spring water is sourced from a spring. It may have a higher mineral content than tap water, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These minerals impart a pleasant flavor that is closely linked to the minerals in the area where it was sourced. Spring water is a great option for a tasty drink of water, but it can be a hassle to store bottles of water in your home. It’s also important to consider the source of your spring water carefully because studies have shown that some spring waters are no better than tap water.
3. Mineral Water
Mineral water has a naturally high level of mineral content and it may not be palatable for many consumers. This type of water can have an earthy or salty taste with a long-lasting aftertaste. Mineral water tastes can vary a great deal depending on where the water was sourced.
An Easier Alternative
As you can see, the relative tastes of water can vary a great deal depending on the source. But, what if you could remove everything from the water and just have pure water to drink? How would that taste? Would it be a healthier option for you and your family? These questions are legitimate and they can be answered with a filtration system installed in your home. Adding a layer of extra protection to secure a clean and healthy source of drinking water makes good sense. After all, public water can be contaminated as it travels through the aging delivery network of pipes and some contaminants are not removed. The main problems with spring and mineral waters are that they can be expensive and they are a real hassle to store. One possible solution is a reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system.
What is a RO Filtration System?
RO is a process that passes the water through a semi-permeable membrane to filter out everything except pure water molecules. This process is 99% effective and it produces water that is exceptionally clean. This system is usually installed as a single point-of-use faucet at the kitchen sink. The water can be used for drinking, cooking, and washing your produce for superior cleanliness. Foods cooked in RO water and beverages made with it are more flavorful because you are tasting them rather than the contaminants in the tap water.
There are a couple of disadvantages to consider. First, this process tends to waste water in a 1:1 ratio, producing 1L of pure water wastes a liter of water. Second, some people don’t like the taste of RO water because it doesn’t have any mineral content.
The first problem is worth the waste for many people that are seeking the cleanest source of drinking water for their homes. RO water enhances the tastes of foods and beverages which encourages people to drink more often. The cost of the “wasted” water still makes this a less expensive option than buying bottles of water. Another consideration is that plastic bottles are bad for the environment.
The second problem of taste can be addressed by adding some pink salt to your RO water or some other healthy minerals. Some people make fruit infusions by soaking fruit in RO water overnight in the refrigerator. This is a healthier alternative to sugary drinks and it tastes great.
If you want to learn more about installing a RO filtration system in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.