Some plumbing materials that come into contact with the water supply in homes, offices and factories can give water unpleasant tastes and odours. When water comes into contact with plastic or rubber pipes or fittings, small amounts of substances may dissolve into the water.
Sometimes, chemical tastes and smells can be irregular, this could be due to:
- Changes to water pressure – at night the pressure of your water supply may be slightly higher as less people are using it, which can cause a slight expansion in any rubber hoses you may have attaching your washing machine or dishwasher to the supply. When a tap in your property is used in the morning, the pressure reduces again and the expanded rubber pipe collapses, squirting water into the incoming water.
- Deterioration of washers – this happens over time, but as this is not a continuous process, the taste can come and go at times.