RO Water Tastes Sweet?! Here Is What You Need to Know
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated: Aug 11, 2023
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Does your reverse osmosis water have a sweet taste to it?
While this might seem like an improvement, it’s also something that you should probably investigate further, as it could indicate a potential problem with your reverse osmosis system.
Reverse osmosis water should normally have no taste or smell, so any deviation from that – even if it has a pleasant taste – should be alarming.
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Key Takeaways
Here is why your RO water may taste sweet:
- Sweet-tasting reverse osmosis water is often caused by remineralization filters
- Or plumbing problems
- In some cases, the issue can be traced to personal issues, such as dehydration, an impaired sense of smell, or another medical condition. Some people may also perceive slightly acidic water as sweet. Or, you simply ate something sweet before drinking.
Why Does Some RO Water Taste Sweet?
Sweet taste in reverse osmosis water can be attributed to several factors. In most cases, you’re likely only dealing with one of those – but it’s still worth exhausting the whole list once you’re at it, so that you can ensure that you don’t miss any additional problems.
Mineral Composition
Are you using a remineralization filter? That’s a standard component of many household reverse osmosis systems nowadays, as it allows users to compensate for the fact that reverse osmosis strips water of most its natural mineral contents.
Calcium and magnesium are the two main offenders here. While many people describe their taste as bitter or salty, some also find them sweet.
pH Imbalance
Reverse osmosis water is slightly acidic, and acidic water generally has a slightly sweet taste to it.
Once again, this is a bit subjective, and some might describe the same taste as the complete opposite – bitter and sour. Try sharing a glass of water with a few other people and compare opinions.
Your Plumbing
Your plumbing might also play a role in the taste of your reverse osmosis water. This is generally not possible with point-of-use systems, as they dispense water directly from the storage tank through a tubing connection.
If you have a whole house system though, it’s possible that water accumulates various contaminants as it travels through your pipes after getting filtered.
You Are Dehydrated
How long has it been since you’ve last had a glass of water? Regular hydration is important, and some people might find that drinking water after a prolonged period of thirst can give it a peculiar, sweet taste. Whether this is due to actual chemical reactions or just a matter of personal perception is inconclusive, but it’s something worth keeping in mind.
You Ate Something Sweet Before
Don’t forget that sweet foods can also leave an aftertaste in your mouth. In some cases, it can linger around long enough to cause a noticeable difference in the taste of regular, pure water. If this is the first time you’re noticing a sweet taste in your reverse osmosis water and you’ve recently had something sweet to eat, that’s probably the reason.
Your Sense of Smell
You also shouldn’t rule out the possibility that you’re just not identifying the taste correctly. If your sense of smell is currently off for whatever reason, this can impact your ability to taste correctly as well. Unfortunately, it often takes a while before most of us realize that this is the case.
A Medical Condition
We don’t want to send you on one of those long online searches for potential diseases, but you should also keep in mind that certain medical conditions can impact your ability to taste or smell correctly. If none of the above points lead to any results, you may want to consider talking to your physician just to eliminate the option.
How Can I Find Out What Is Causing My RO Water to Taste Sweet?
The only way to be sure about your specific situation is to have your feed or RO water tested in a laboratory. This takes a while and costs some money, but it’s the most reliable way of finding out what your water contains, and in what amounts. This can help you narrow down the possible causes of the sweet taste.
Further Reading:
Is Drinking RO Water That Tastes Sweet Dangerous?
This depends entirely on the reason for the taste. If it’s something temporary like dehydration or an impaired sense of smell, then by all means, go ahead.
However, if you’ve identified problems with your plumbing or the overall composition of the water, it might make more sense to approach this with caution and get a professional opinion before drinking from that water again.
What Should Reverse Osmosis Water Taste Like?
If your reverse osmosis system is working properly, your filtered water should have no smell or taste to it. This can seem a bit unusual if you’ve been drinking regular unfiltered water for a long time, to the point where it can seem like there’s something wrong with your reverse osmosis filter. Don’t worry though – as long as you can’t detect any actual taste or smell, that’s a good sign.
If you have any questions about why your RO water tastes sweet please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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