Does your city water taste slightly off, or are you noticing a lingering chemical smell in your shower? You’re not alone. While municipal water systems meet rigorous safety standards, that doesn’t always mean the water in your home will taste, feel, or perform the same in every household. Most concerns stem from disinfectants, mineral content, and changes that occur once water enters your plumbing system.
At Tri-County Pump Service, Inc., we’ve been helping homeowners understand and address these water quality issues for over 30 years. Whether your concern is taste, odor, scale buildup, or overall water quality, we’ve seen it all, and we can help you find a solution that works for your home and your budget.
If city water is treated, why does it still taste bad?
Quick answer:
City water is treated to ensure safety and stability, but city water treatment doesn’t guarantee ideal taste in every household. The most common factors are disinfectants such as chlorine or chloramine, minerals that affect flavor, and changes in your plumbing or water heater.
What usually causes the bad taste:
- Chlorine or chloramine can leave a chemical taste or a faint “pool-adjacent” note.
- Minerals and hardness can affect flavor and leave film on dishes or fixtures.
- In-home factors like an older water heater, sediment, or aging plumbing can make hot water taste worse than cold.
Why does it change over time?
Treatment levels and water sources can shift seasonally, and your neighborhood’s position in the distribution system can influence taste and odor. Seasonal maintenance on municipal systems can also temporarily affect taste.
What typically fixes it?
If the problem is mainly taste and odor, whole-home carbon filtration is often the first step. If you also have scale or dry-feeling water, you may need to address hardness, too. We recommend starting with a water test so you can match the solution to the actual cause. Our team can perform a free water analysis to help identify what’s affecting your water and suggest the right treatment option for your situation.
Why does my tap water smell like a pool?
Quick answer
That pool smell is typically disinfectant residual (chlorine or chloramine). It helps keep water safe, but it can be more noticeable at certain taps and especially in the shower.
Why is it stronger in some places than others?
Shower water is hot and aerated, which can release gases and make odors more noticeable. Older pipes with sediment or corrosion can intensify these smells. Your distance from the city water treatment plant, local pipe conditions, seasonal demand, and treatment adjustments all play a role in how strong the residual odor appears.
What typically fixes it?
Whole-home or point-of-use carbon filters remove most of the residual taste and smell. Many homeowners notice the biggest improvement in the shower. If the smell persists after filtration, it might indicate an issue with your plumbing or water heater, something our team can diagnose during an inspection.
Do I need a whole-house filter if I have city water?
Quick answer
It depends on your specific water quality concerns. A whole-house filter can improve taste, smell, and appearance, and it protects your appliances and plumbing fixtures. Whether you need one depends on what your water test shows.
Common reasons homeowners choose whole-house filtration
- Improving taste and odor from chlorine or chloramine.
- Reducing sediment and cloudiness that can clog fixtures.
- Protecting appliances and plumbing from scale and corrosion.
- Addressing specific contaminants that show up in water testing.
How to decide
The best way to know if you need a filter is to test your water. We offer affordable water testing that shows you exactly what’s in your city water. Once you know, you can choose a filter that targets your specific issues, or determine that your water is fine as-is. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that a modest filtration investment saves them money on appliance repairs and extends the life of their plumbing.
Why do I get scale buildup if I have city water?
Quick answer
Scale buildup, that white, crusty deposit on faucets and fixtures, indicates hard water. While city water is treated for safety, hardness (calcium and magnesium minerals) is not removed and may vary depending on your location and local geology.
What causes scale buildup
- Calcium and magnesium minerals (water hardness) bond to hot surfaces and fixtures.
- Slightly elevated pH levels can increase mineral precipitation.
- Hot water tanks concentrate minerals, making scale worse on hot water faucets.
Why it matters
Hard water reduces the efficiency of water heaters, clogs showerheads, and shortens the life of appliances. It also reduces soap effectiveness, meaning you use more detergent and shampoo. Over time, scale can damage plumbing.
What typically fixes it
A water softener removes hardness from minerals and prevents scale buildup. Many homeowners see results immediately: dishes shine, soap lathers better, and fixtures stay clean longer. If you’re concerned about hardness, our water testing will measure your hardness level and help you decide whether a softener makes sense for your home.
Do I need a water softener if I have city water?
Quick answer
A water softener is useful if your water is hard, something a simple test will confirm. It reduces scale, improves appliance efficiency, and makes cleaning easier. Whether you need one depends on your hardness level and budget.
Signs you might benefit from a softener:
- Scale buildup on faucets and fixtures
- Dull hair and dry skin after showering
- Spots on dishes after washing
- Reduced soap lather in showers or baths
- Higher water-heating costs due to scale-coated heating elements
Is a softener worth it?
For homeowners with moderately hard to hard water, a softener typically pays for itself through lower energy bills and reduced appliance replacement costs. Plus, the quality-of-life improvements, softer skin, shinier hair, and cleaner dishes are noticed right away. We can help you determine whether a softener is a smart investment for your home.
Does a water softener remove chlorine?
Quick answer
Although a water softener removes hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium), it does not remove chlorine or chloramine. If taste or odor is your main concern, you’ll need carbon filtration in addition to a softener, or instead of one, depending on other aspects of your water content.
How they work differently
- Water softeners exchange hardness minerals for sodium, preventing scale but leaving chlorine intact.
- Carbon filters adsorb chlorine and some other compounds, improving taste and odor.
- Combined systems (softener + carbon filter, or carbon then softener) address both hardness and taste/odor.
Choosing the right approach
Your water test results will show both hardness and chlorine levels. Based on that, we can recommend whether you need a softener, a filter, both, or neither. Many homeowners find that combining treatments gives them the best results: soft water plus great taste.
Is my water bad, or is it my plumbing?
Quick answer
Water quality problems can come from the municipal system, your home’s plumbing, or both. The best way to know is to test your water at the point where it enters your home,and sometimes at different outlets to compare.
Common plumbing issues that affect water quality:
- Aging pipes (especially galvanized steel or lead) can introduce metallic taste, discoloration, or cloudiness.
- Water heater sediment can make hot water taste worse and clog fixtures.
- Corroded fixtures contribute a metallic taste or odor.
- Biofilm buildup in pipes can cause odor or discoloration.
How to tell the difference
Does the problem happen with cold water, hot water, or both? At one tap or throughout the home? These clues help pinpoint whether the issue is in the municipal water or your plumbing. We can test your water at the meter and at different points in your home to identify the source. If it’s a plumbing issue, we can advise on treatment or maintenance options.
Does city water have fluoride, and can it be removed?
Quick answer
Many municipal systems add fluoride to support dental health. If your water has fluoride and you want it removed, you’ll need a specific type of filter; not all filters do this. Reverse osmosis and some specialized filters can remove fluoride.
Why it’s added
Fluoride is added to reduce tooth decay, particularly in children. It’s a public health measure backed by dental and health organizations.
How to remove it if desired
- Reverse osmosis systems effectively remove fluoride.
- Specialized fluoride filters are available but less common.
- Whole-home carbon filters do not remove fluoride.
- Point-of-use filters (under-sink or pitcher) with reverse osmosis work for drinking and cooking water.
Before you remove it
Consider whether removal is necessary for your household. If you have young children or prefer fluoride for dental health, you might keep it. If you prefer to avoid it, we can recommend an appropriate filtration method. A water test will confirm your fluoride level and help you decide.
Bottom line
City water is safe and regulated, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. What works in one neighborhood might taste different a few miles away, and what’s fine for one family might not meet another family’s preferences or needs. The good news? Understanding your water is the first step to improving it.
Curious About Your Water? Ask Tri-County Pumps About Installing Water Treatment
For over 30 years, Tri-County Pump Service, Inc. has helped Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia homeowners address their water quality concerns with professional testing, expert guidance, and proven solutions. Whether you’re dealing with taste, odor, hardness, or more complex issues, we start with a conversation and a water test,then recommend only what makes sense for your home and budget.
If you’d like to know what’s in your water and what options might help, we’re here to support you. Schedule a free water quality consultation today by calling us at (301) 882-2698, or filling out a form on our website. Let’s get your water where you want it to be.
