My water tastes / smells funny. Does this mean it's not safe to drink? What should I do?
There are a variety of factors that can impact the taste or smell of tap water but not change the quality of the water. In Charleston Water's case, algae in our surface water, when put through the treatment process, can give off harmless compounds that may cause the water to taste “earthy” or “musty.” In most cases, taste and odor are purely aesthetic concerns, and are not reliable indicators of water quality.

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1. Does Charleston have a shortage of water?
2. Does Charleston's water contain fluoride?
3. How is the water disinfected?
4. I live in an older home, should I be concerned about lead pipes contaminating my water?
5. Is it okay to use the hot water tap for cooking or drinking?
6. Is my water safe to drink or is bottled water or filtered water safer?
7. Is tap water safe for use in aquariums?
8. My dishwasher leaves water spots on my glasses. What can I do to prevent this?
9. My water tastes / smells funny. Does this mean it's not safe to drink? What should I do?
10. Should I be concerned about Cryptosporidium or Giardia?
11. Should I be concerned about the sodium level of Charleston Water System water?
12. Sometimes my water has a milky white appearance, why?
13. What is a Boil Water Advisory?
14. What is the pH of Charleston's water?
15. What is hardness and how hard is Charleston's water?
16. Where does Charleston Water System water come from?
17. Why does my water sometimes appear rusty?