Getting the water you drink from a private well or water softener could be instances that it’s not quite normal in taste.
Most commonly, it does due to adding more sodium to the water, high content of sulfur compound, erosion of salt deposits, agriculture or industrial contamination, and the hardness of your water.
According to World Health Organization, drinking water should contain less than 200 milligrams/L of sodium.
It is an “aesthetic” concern as water beyond this threshold may be acceptable to drink.
Although, salty water is a relatively rare problem and isn’t typically an indication of anxiety. But if you think, “Why does my water taste salty?” there may be many different causes from various sources.
Why Does My Tap Water Taste Salty?
It’s likely due to one of these reasons: high in chloride ions or sulfates or a problem with the hard water softener.
1. High Concentration of Sulfates
Another cause of your water’s salty flavor is the high content of sulfur compounds.
Sulfates, such as sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate, could cause the water to taste bad.
These sulfates can be found naturally in a variety of rocks and soil. When rainwater or groundwater travels through the earth naturally, sulfates can get into your filtered water supplies.
During winter, it is most likely that melts, snow, or rain could bring road salt runoff to reservoirs.
Sulfate can also be present within your drinking water due to industrial waste, shale, or the decomposition of sulfide minerals.
In addition to the odd flavor and sour taste, more than 500 mg/L of sulfates in water could cause a laxative reaction for the people who consume it.
2. Contaminants from Your Area
Sometimes salt and salty-tasting minerals can enter the water from a nearby area.
If you live near an ocean, the sea, or a bay, hard water may get into pipes and cause the tap water to be saltier.
It can introduce salty minerals into the soft water supply depending on the makeup of the deposits on the ground.
The sodium content is around 2.6 percent of the earth’s crust, which means local deposits are not uncommon.
Salt deposits can dissolve into surface water and filter into the water supply in cold climates.
A RO water treatment is the perfect option for removing the chlorine cause bleach smell, mineral, and metallic taste, maintaining the total dissolved solids, and producing the same quality as bottled water.
3. Water Softener Issue
Your softener water treatment may cause a bad salty taste in your drinking water, even if it is the best water softener on the market.
Several reasons behind your water softener not working well could cause excessive salt with brine solution.
Softeners can be very efficient but also complicated devices.
Sometimes it may not function properly to soften your water due to wrong programming, due to the system believing that more salt is present.
However, there could be problems with the system, for instance, the drain line or resin tank. In this case, you may require replacing or cleaning parts.
4. High Concentration of Chloride Ions
Sodium chloride is commonly referred to as table salt or rock salt. If these salts dissolve into soft water, the sodium ions split.
Chloride ions present in your water can result from industrial waste that wasn’t correctly disposed of.
The irrigation drainage may include soaps, detergents, and other products for cleaning which contain chloride.
When these chemicals enter soils, the chemical ions break up and move toward the water source.
Suppose you reside in an area with a coastline where ocean water is present. In that case, it can contribute to the salty water taste.
When the water demand is excessive in these regions, there is a chance for ocean water to get into the aquifer and pollute the water source.
The chloride ions create a salty flavor to drinking water quality and cause additional issues.
Chloride ions are susceptible to the corrosion of pipes, discoloring sinks, and taps.
The EPA is adamant that chloride is a secondary contaminant since it doesn’t pose a health threat.
Its highest contaminant level is 250 mg/L, and it would be sufficient to prevent the most visible adverse effects.
To resolve the chloride Ions issue, our best reverse osmosis system collection that is affordable and convenient can be helpful to you.
Water Taste Salty With A Water Softener
Here are a few reasons you could be experiencing your softened water taste salty:
5. Brine Tank Full of Water
Check out the brine tank to ensure it’s not overflowing with softened water.
Find excessive amounts of water in the tank. It could be because it absorbs salt, which will remain behind after regeneration.
You might use a shop vac or turkey baster to collect the extra water to get rid of some of that water.
6. The Raw Water Coming Into the Home
Suppose the raw water entering the house has high sodium ions content, to begin with. In that case, it will have very high sodium when passed through the water softener.
This high concentration may be the one you’re experiencing.
7. Clogged Injector
Verify whether the injector is blocked. Both horizontal and vertical holes in the injector might be clogged with debris or dirt.
It is essential to be cautious when you dig the holes you make to ensure they do not get any larger.
If your injector is clogged, experts suggest that you replace it instead of trying to clean it.
8. Incorrect Timer Set or Interrupted Brine Cycle
Generally speaking, your water softener is set to start its regeneration process around 2:00 or 3:00 am if no one is using soft water.
While an electrical outage or the child is having fun with buttons, your timer may be set to turn off at a specific time of the day.
Your water can taste salty after regeneration; for example, when you wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom when the softener is in the regeneration process, it causes salty water to fill your pipes.
If this happens to you, open the faucet, and let the salty water disappear.
9. Drain Line Flow Control Button Clogged
It is among the most frequent problems to check for. The elbow inside has a drain control switch that can become clogged.
If it’s clogged, then you’ll have to remove it. Sometimes, replacing the part is easier, particularly if you spot any damages in the vicinity.
10. Drain Line is Clogged, Kinked, or Too Long
Follow the drain line when exiting the softener and look for any kinks within the pipe.
Verify that there is no obstruction inside the drain line which could block the water drain.
Also, ensure the drain line doesn’t exceed 8 feet vertically and 20 feet in horizontal distance from the end of the resin tank and the point it connects to the drain.
If it is, the softener may have trouble draining the water from the brine solution tank to the drain.
How To Fix Salty Water Taste?
Although salty water flavored with salt does not necessarily create serious health risks, it isn’t the most refreshing.
1. Reverse Osmosis System
Specifications
- Contaminants Removed: 1,000+
- Testing/ Certifications: NSF/ANSI 58
- Process: RO, Carbon Filter
- Item Weight: 20 Pounds
- Material: Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Plastic, Metal
- Dimensions: 15.5″L x 5.1″W x 19.5″H
- Capacity: 75 Gallons
- Warranty: 1 year
One of the most effective methods to stop salty aftertaste water is to buy a Reverse Osmosis system.
The reverse osmosis system is a filtration system that uses ultra-high water pressure to remove all the salt and other mineral ions from water. This process leaves pure, sparkling water behind.
It is an effective way to rid your home of unwanted salts and minerals, including those that can cause a salty water taste.
This filter will also prevent future buildups of these contaminants, so you’ll always have clean and fresh drinking water.
2. House Water Softener
Specifications
- Grain Capacity: 40,000
- Dimensions: 19″ D x 18″ W x 47 7/8″ H
- Weight: 94.8 pounds
- Iron Removal: 10 PPM
- Item Model: WHES40E
- Color: Off-White
Suppose you’re worried about the effects of salty-tasting water in your home and soft water using appliances like a washing machine or hot water heater.
In that case, it is possible to consider investing in a complete home water softener system.
These systems add sodium ions to the water, which helps soften it and reduce its mineral content.
This can help improve the taste and make drinking more comfortable for people with salty water problems.
Softeners can be expensive, but they’re worth it if you want to avoid getting that unwanted taste in your home.
3. Water Distiller
If all these other measures fail to improve the water taste, you may need to try a distiller.
It breaks down water into its molecular components – H2O and O2 – so that it can be reused by plants or animals.
This process helps to remove salts, mineral ions, and other contaminants from drinking water.
Distillers are not always easy to install, but if you’re desperate for a solution to your problem, they may be the best option available.
4. Water Filter Pitcher
- Dimensions: 10.7” x 5.4” x 10.1” inches
- Weight: 2.29 pounds
- Produce: 120 gallons
- Size: 10 cups
If you want to avoid installation problems, another option is to purchase a water filter pitcher.
These pitchers collect water from your sink and send it through several filters before dispensing it into your cup or mug.
The system can help improve the taste and quality of your drinking water, but it won’t remove all the salt content.
If you’re only worried about your drinking water’s taste, please look at our list of best water pitchers or faucet filters that will effectively enhance the flavor.
Can my water softener make my water taste salty?
The quick answer is that conventional water softeners will not make the water taste salty.
Water softeners make use of sodium to assist in the purification process.
They will add a small amount of sodium to the water; however, the taste must not be noticeable to the humans’ taste senses.
But the rare chance of clogging or the wrong setting may increase salt quality in your water.
A further checklist is explained in this video to solve the salty water:
Faq
The most frequent causes of your well water suddenly tasting salty can be found in the following:
Surface runoff of salt road
A high level of snow or rain that seeps into soils with high sodium
Flooding along the coast or other similar activities results in ocean water contamination of your groundwater
The contamination of groundwater by liquid-solid waste or the sewage
Agriculture and industrial contamination.
There may be the erosion of salt deposits in your area’s groundwater
Naturally high levels of salt in the aquifer of your well (the under-ground rock layer from which your water draws its supply)
You might notice that your favorite food items and water taste salty while covid. Foods may be bland and salty, sweet or metallic.
These changes tend to be short-term but could affect your appetite and the quantity you eat.
Sometimes, if the salt-based water softener is damaged or broken, or the setting needs to be altered, it may cause the water you drink to taste salty.
The positive side is that it is typically repairable or adjustable by fixing the softener’s settings.
The maximum chance of salty tap water originates from chloride, especially sodium chloride, that gets into the water and makes the salty water.
Salt deposits or seawater intrusion in your groundwater are typical causes.
You need to get an RO water filter for your home that can eliminate metallic taste, chlorine, mineral, and total dissolved solids level and gives quality as bottled water.
Hard mineral deposits can reduce your water appliance’s life, like a washing machine, hot water heater, and dishwasher.
Ro produces demineralized water after filtration; you need to add an extra filtration stage to get essential minerals in your water.
Being diabetic could put you at a higher risk of developing taste disorders.
They are also called Dysgeusia. Disorders of taste may cause the development of a bitter-sweet, sour, or salty taste in your mouth.
If you have diabetes with taste issues, you’re at the chance of developing dental cavities, gum disease, as well as other oral health issues.
A chronic kidney problem caused by high blood pressure, nerve damage caused by diabetes, chronic infections, lupus, or kidney disease can cause various issues in your body, including the taste of metallic inside your mouth.
Conclusion
If you are getting the water you drink from a private well or water softeners, there is no doubt that it has lost its normal taste.
However, it doesn’t mean that the cause of this is entirely out of your hands. Doing some of these steps allows the water’s taste to be restored to normal.
Do remember that if you notice any unusual smell or changes in your household’s water quality, consult a professional immediately for an accurate diagnosis and proper solution!