Problem guide
Why does tap water taste of chlorine?
What causes the taste, why it varies by area and season, and what people commonly try.
4 min read
Where the taste comes from
Water suppliers in the UK maintain a small residual disinfectant level to keep water safe through the pipe network. That residual is what many people notice as a taste or smell.
It varies by area, by distance from the treatment works and by time of year, which is why the same house can taste different in summer and winter.
What people commonly try
Refrigerating water in an open jug for a while, which many people find changes the smell.
Activated carbon filtration, which is the approach most commonly associated with taste and odour in domestic drinking water. How well any individual product performs depends on that product and its testing.
A note on claims
Taste is a sensory judgement, not a safety measure. UK mains water is regulated and treated. This guide is general information about the category. It is not a claim about any EcoVeya product, and we make no health claims.