Water is regarded as being a completely neutral substance that is clear to look at. Perfectly balanced in its pH, it looks pretty much the same whether you pour yourself a glass at home or at work.

However, depending on where you live in the UK, there can be subtle differences to the water you drink. As an example, someone living in Elgin in the north of Scotland will have a completely different type of water than someone in Dorset in the South West of England.

We touched upon the subtle differences in tap water quality across geographic locations in our recent post, Why is my tap tater cloudy?

In today’s blog post we ask – does water have a taste? And if so, does it change in taste depending on where you are in the country?

Is tap water all the same?

Pour a glass of water in your business premises or home kitchen right now. Ask someone if they can tell you what the pH of the water is.

Did they say 7? They may be correct, but in truth, it can fluctuate from anywhere between 6.5 and 8.5. Water with a pH of 7 is considered to be pure water, but most of the water we consume and use in the UK will sit anywhere from 6 to 8 on the scale.

Does that mean that water without a pH of 7 is dangerous to drink? No, not at all. Water with a pH lower than 7 is considered to be acidic, and with a pH greater than 7 is considered to be basic. However, it is perfectly fine to drink water with these pH levels. So, you’ve taken a sip of the tap water from at your business premises or home kitchen and you are certain that there is a taste to it. Well, that’s all thanks to mineral composition.

tap water taste

What makes water have a taste?

Minerals. You may think of water as purely hydrogen and oxygen. But when it filters through a limestone (or any stone) aquifer, or it is sourced from groundwater supplies, it will naturally absorb minerals and chemicals which can contribute ever so slightly to giving the water a distinctive taste.

Whenever you pick up on a specific taste in your water, it may be due to the presence of calcium and magnesium ions, or similar mineral sources.

Most of the time it goes unnoticed, but some waters do have a distinct taste from where they are sourced. You might even be surprised to know there is now such a thing as a water sommelier, who similar to their wine tasting counterparts, specialises in tasting types of water from around the world!

Is there a certain pH to avoid?

Six to eight and you are doing great.

Stick to this motto when it comes to your water. That is the range within which water is safe to drink. You should expect the water you use domestically to be well within that range and as close to 7 as possible.

what does water taste like

How do I know if my water is safe to drink?

The process that brings tap water to your premises is heavily regulated, and every drop you use must go through a stringent series of network tests and checks before it can be used.

If you wanted to check for yourself, you can buy some pH strips suitable for using to test water. Be sure to stay away from Litmus strips as they only tell you if a liquid is acidic or alkaline.

Where can I find more information on what is in my water?

Have a look through our archive of blog posts for some interesting, weird and wonderful posts on all things water, where we discuss various topics such as whether we drink the same water as the dinosaurs, or understanding your water footprint.

Where can I discuss the water requirements specific to my business?

Every business is different and each one has specific water and wastewater requirements.

Castle Water offers an individual, responsive service, whether you’re a small company just looking for a water provider or you’re a large industrial customer with complex trade effluent needs.

Get more information on the business water and wastewater services we provide.