Drinking tap water is a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective choice than buying mineral water. While this beverage is better for the planet and your wallet, it is not always to everyone's taste... For those who are bothered by the chlorine or lime it contains, here are 5 tips to improve the taste of tap water.
The main complaint about tap water is that it has a taste of bleach or chlorine. First of all, it should be noted that the maximum content of "residual free chlorine" in France (0.1 mg per liter) is safe for health. On the contrary, this addition ensures the sanitary quality of the water distributed by preventing the development of pathogenic germs during its transportation in the pipes.
The first of the 5 tips to improve the taste of tap water is to place it in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Fill a carafe or a glass bottle and keep it cool for at least 1 hour. This very simple solution is usually enough to dissipate the chlorine smell and taste that may be unpleasant.
If you find that tap water always tastes bad after being refrigerated, you can equip yourself with a filtering pitcher, like over 20% of households in France.
Filtering pitchers are another one of the 5 tips to improve the taste of tap water. They are very effective at removing chlorine, limescale, lead, and organic residues in the water, provided they are used properly.
Firstly, it is essential to change the filter within the specified time frame by the manufacturer to avoid any risk of water contamination by previously filtered pollutants.
Furthermore, as this device removes the chlorine content in tap water, bacteria can grow again. That's why it is important to take careful care of the pitcher and store the filtered water:
• remember to regularly clean your pitcher
• keep the filtered water in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours.
Another natural and inexpensive solution to neutralize the chlorine taste of water is to use activated charcoal or binchotan.
This activated charcoal is sold in organic stores in the form of sticks to infuse for several hours directly in your pitcher.
Among the 5 tips to improve the taste of tap water, binchotan is one of the cheapest. This charcoal stick, used in Japan for centuries to purify water, costs only a few euros (from 3 to 6 € each) for about 6 months of use.
You should change it when its surface becomes grayish. You can then put it in the compost as it is biodegradable.
If, despite the tips given above, you have difficulty drinking tap water, you can improve its taste by adding natural flavors.
It is very easy to flavor still water by infusing common ingredients in it:
• fresh herbs like mint or lemon verbena
• a few drops of lemon juice or slices of organic citrus fruit
• or even vegetables like cucumber slices!
This type of healthy flavored drink is often called detox water and there are countless recipes available on the web. Just choose the ingredients you like the most to create your own sugar-free and calorie-free drinks!
We don't always think about it, but the last of the 5 tips to improve the taste of tap water is to make it sparkling.
By acquiring a machine that transforms still water into sparkling water using gas cartridges, you save on numerous plastic bottles... Of course, this purchase represents an initial investment since you have to count around €70 for a Sodastream machine and €200 for the design models from the Aarke brand.
Sparkling water and soda machines are quite expensive, but in the long run, this solution is much better for your wallet and for the planet if you are used to consuming carbonated drinks.
Author Audrey on 30 January 2023
Gastronomy and Food : Diet and Dietetics
Author Audrey on 29 May 2024
Gastronomy and Food : Diet and Dietetics