First, trust your instincts. If your water smells like a swimming pool, you’ve got chlorine doing the limbo in your pipes. If it smells like a wet dog who just ran through a swamp, you might be dealing with bacteria or sulfur. I once poured a glass that smelled so much like a hard-boiled egg, I checked the fridge to see if my lunch had escaped.
Take a small sip. Does it taste metallic, like you’re licking a penny you found in a parking lot? That’s often iron or copper. If it’s salty, you might have hard water that’s been hanging out with too many minerals. Write down what you smell and taste—it’s your first clue, like finding a muddy footprint at a crime scene.
