Why Does My Water Taste Sweet? | Tier1Water.com (2024)

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Unless you’ve just added flavoring to your water, you normally don’t expect it to taste sweet. When you sip a glass from your tap that has a sweet taste, you may wonder what got into your water, and even worry if it’s harmful.

While typically not a health concern, there are a few common reasons why your water might taste sweet, and treatment options available if needed.

What does my water taste sweet?

The most likely reasons water tastes sweet are that it has high concentrations of minerals, a pH imbalance, plumbing residue, or even an interaction with your diet or sense of smell.

You cantest your waterto verify if there is a contaminant responsible for the taste, and also to discover other issues you may not realize are affecting your water quality.

• Minerals in the water

A common reason for water tasting sweet is it has a high concentration ofmineralssuch as calcium. Well water in particular is likely to contain such minerals, which are also responsible for hard water. While not a health risk, you may want to treat your water if hardness minerals are present because they can have serious effects on your plumbing, appliances, and water quality.

Read more about hard water

• Alkaline or high pH water

A pH level of 7 is considered “neutral”. The acceptable range for pH in water systems is 6.5 to 8.5. If outside this range, you have apH imbalance. A high pH, orAlkaline, water can also have higher levels of minerals and is sometimes described as having a sweet taste. Naturally alkaline water is generally considered safe to drink.

• Plumbing

It’s possible that a sweet taste in your water indicates the need toflush your pipes. No matter the age or type of plumbing, it can sometimes change the way your water tastes.

If your plumbing is affecting the taste of your water, cleaning your pipes out may fix the problem.

• Your diet/sense of smell

If you ate something just before noticing the sweet taste in your water, yourperceptionmight be skewed. Sometimes the difference in tastes or smells between the food and the water make the water seem sweet in comparison.

You may also be confusing the sweet taste with asmell. Because people can more easily detect changes in odor than taste, you may perceive a change in taste that is actually related to its smell.

How do you get rid of sweet taste in water?

After you’vetested your waterto verify if there’s a contaminant in your water, you can choose the most effective treatment solution.

• Calcium treatment - water softener

If you have high levels of calcium in your water, you have hard water. Hard water is defined as having high levels of hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium. The higher the mineral content, the harder the water. Measured in grains per gallon (GPG), you may start to see the effects of hard water at around 7 GPG of hardness.

While not considered a health hazard, hard water can leave scale on your appliances, build up mineral deposits in plumbing, make laundry feel stiff and rough, and leave your skin and hair dull and lifeless.

A traditional salt-based water softener is recommended for well water, while a salt-free conditioner is a great option for municipal water supplies. Successful treatment will depend on both the level of hardness, and if there are other contaminants present in the water such as iron.

Shop Water Softeners

Shop Salt-Free Water Conditioners

• Alkaline (low pH) - water softener

If the cause of your sweet tasting water is a pH imbalance, it’s possible you don’t need to do anything. Alkaline water isn’t considered a threat to your health.

But if the water is alkaline because of hardness minerals, you may want to soften your water to reduce the hardness before your plumbing, fixtures, and appliances are affected.

Shop Water Softeners

Shop Salt-Free Water Conditioners

• Plumbing - flush out the pipes

If the sweet taste of your water is from contact with whatever is trapped in your pipes, you can let your water run to clear them out. When you fill up your glass, let the water run for a bit before you fill up your glass. Sometimes this is all the flushing needed to eliminate the funny taste.

• Sensitivity to tastes and smells - undersink filtration

When your water tastes sweet because you just happen to have a very sensitive sense of taste or smell, your best bet might be to install an undersink filtration system to rid your water of any trace of particles or contaminants.

AnUltrafiltration SystemorReverse Osmosis Systemwill provide maximum filtration of your drinking water, dispensed from its own dedicated faucet.

Ultrafiltration Systems

Reverse Osmosis System

You could also consider investing in a whole housecarbon and KDF filtration systemto provide better tasting water to every tap in your home. While designed to rid your water of chlorine taste and odor, these systems also reduce heavy metals like lead and mercury, organic chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Whole house chlorine reduction system

You can treat your sweet tasting water

If your home’s drinking water tastes sweet, it’s likely an easy fix. It’s possible you may not even have an issue with your water, but your perception.

It’s always a good idea to test your water to verify if there are other issues that don’t leave obvious clues like taste or smell.

Once you’ve verified your water’s issues, you can choose the most effective treatment, and enjoy all the benefits of clean, healthy water.

Why Does My Water Taste Sweet? | Tier1Water.com (2024)

FAQs

Why Does My Water Taste Sweet? | Tier1Water.com? ›

The most likely reasons water tastes sweet are that it has high concentrations of minerals, a pH imbalance, plumbing residue, or even an interaction with your diet or sense of smell.

Why does my water taste sweet only to me? ›

It might mean that your plumbing is impacting the taste of your water, or it could be a sign that the water contains minerals, such as iron or calcium, that could lead to a sweet taste. It could also be a sign that your body may have a difficult time differentiating specific tastes.

Is there a medical condition that makes water taste sweet? ›

Certain Medical Conditions

Sometimes, your water isn't to blame for that sweet taste in your mouth. Medical conditions such as diabetes and acid reflux could actually be responsible. In the case of diabetes, your body could be struggling to balance your blood sugar level, which sometimes results in that sweet taste.

Does alkaline water taste sweet? ›

If you're curious what alkaline water tastes like, you're in for a treat. Alkaline water from a water ionizer tastes just like natural artesian spring water-deeply refreshing and smooth, with a slightly sweeter and more satisfying taste than plain H2O.

What would make water sweet? ›

Certain substances or chemicals, such as certain minerals, organic compounds, or bacteria, can alter the taste of water and make it seem sweet. For example, if your water source has high levels of naturally occurring minerals like iron or manganese, it can impart a sweet taste to the water.

Should I be worried if water tastes sweet? ›

If you have sweet-tasting water, don't panic. Chances are it's nothing major. However, if it concerns you, consider getting a filtered water cooler for your workplace to help neutralize any off-tasting sweetness or odors, and to simply improve the overall quality of your household drinking water.

What vitamin deficiency causes sweet taste in the mouth? ›

It could also be related to an ear infection, vitamin B12 or zinc deficiency, swollen gums, certain medications you are taking, a side effect of smoking pipes, exposure to some chemicals (such as insecticides), or dental problems.

Does sweet taste in mouth mean diabetes? ›

If you have diabetes and your body is struggling to regulate blood sugar, then high levels of glucose may be causing a sweet taste in the mouth. Symptoms you experience with this taste include increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.

Can stress cause a sweet taste in the mouth? ›

The findings suggest that these hormones, known as glucocorticoids, may act directly on taste receptor cells under conditions of stress to affect how these cells respond to sugars and certain other taste stimuli. "Sweet taste may be particularly affected by stress," said lead author M.

Why is there a weird taste in my mouth when I drink water? ›

Find out if the weird taste in your mouth is caused by gum disease, medication, dry mouth, or a more serious illness. Occasionally, experiencing a bad taste in your mouth is entirely normal. However, if you've had a strange taste in your mouth for days, it could be a sign of an underlying dental or medical problem.

What does it mean if water tastes sweet? ›

High amount of minerals.

Minerals such as calcium and iron are often found naturally in drinking water, and they can produce a sweet taste. While these aren't typically harmful, they can lead to hard water that affects your appliances.

Who should not drink alkaline water? ›

Unless you have a kidney disease, alkaline water doesn't pose any serious health risks. The high pH could make your skin dry and itchy or cause an upset stomach, but that's about all. Just because it's safe, though, doesn't mean it does anything for you.

Does diabetes make water taste sweet? ›

Uncontrolled diabetes can result in high levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes can sometimes cause a sweet taste in the mouth and is often accompanied by other symptoms.

Why does my water taste sweet when I'm sick? ›

Disruptions in the body's olfactory system — the system that allows the body to smell — can result in a sweet taste in the mouth. Infection in the sinuses, nose, and throat. Certain bacteria, especially pseudomonas, can cause a sweet taste in the mouth. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

What does it mean when you drink bottled water and it tastes sweet? ›

The sodium element of bottled mineral water reacts with oral enzymes, so it feels sweet. Bottled Mineral water is a natural product, after a series of purification treatments, it contains more mineral elements, including sodium, zinc, iron, and other material elements.

Why does water taste sweet after brushing teeth? ›

Effect on your taste buds

Even though surfactants will make brushing teeth much easier, they're doing a lot more than making that foam. Both SLS and SLES create a chemical change in a couple of ways. First they cause problems with the taste buds which perceive the sweetness in foods and drinks.

Why does water taste weird to me but not others? ›

“[Supertasters] are also more sensitive to umami, salty, sweet, and sour. This heightened sensitivity tends to make them more picky eaters as well,” says Dr. Husain. It also explains why some folks might be more sensitive than others to subtle notes of sourness and other elements present in water.

What causes a sweet taste in the mouth? ›

Eating sugary or sweet foods can cause a temporary sweet aftertaste in the mouth. However, a persistent sweet or fruity taste in the mouth can be a sign of a more serious condition. A sweet taste in the mouth can be a signal of the body having trouble regulating blood sugar, which may be due to diabetes.

Why do I have a sweet taste in my mouth but not diabetic? ›

A sweet taste in the mouth can be an early symptom of neurological issues. Viruses that attack the body's ability to smell. Disruptions in the body's olfactory system — the system that allows the body to smell — can result in a sweet taste in the mouth. Infection in the sinuses, nose, and throat.

Why does water taste different to me? ›

Certain minerals, like potassium, magnesium, or calcium, can give water a slightly sweet flavor. It's also possible there's a slight imbalance in the mineral content of the water, which can alter its taste.

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