Why Does My Water Taste Metallic?
By TapWater.uk Research··Independent research
Symptom
Water has a metallic, bitter, or tinny taste
What causes this?
- Copper or lead leaching from old household pipes, especially in pre-1970 homes.
- Low pH water dissolving metal from plumbing fittings.
- Galvanised iron pipes corroding (common in older properties).
Is it dangerous?
Potentially, if caused by lead. Copper gives a metallic taste at levels above 1 mg/L. Lead has no taste but often accompanies other metals. If your home was built before 1970, check for lead pipes.
What to do
- 1.Always run the cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking, especially first thing in the morning.
- 2.Never use hot tap water for drinking or cooking — hot water dissolves more metal from pipes.
- 3.Consider a water filter certified to remove heavy metals.
- 4.If your home is pre-1970, check if you have lead pipes (they're dull grey and soft — a coin will scratch them).
When to contact your water supplier
If the metallic taste is persistent, especially in a pre-1970 home. Ask your water company for a free lead test.
Related contaminants
These contaminants may be associated with this symptom. Check postcode-level data on our contaminant pages.
Check what's in your water
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