Here's the checkup for what
you've observed:
(Click on words to link to more info)
- Taste- Metallic
and bitter you've probably got some copper. (try licking a clean
penny to compare.... wash it first!!)
- Smell- Swimming
pool memories? That's chlorine. Boiled eggs?
Sulphur(???)
- Feel- Rich
lather and smooth slippery feel? That means soft water. If it
takes alot of soap to get suds, but easy to rinse off, probably
hard water.
- Itchy skin? You probably have a rash.(just
kidding.... that's often a sign of hard water also.)
- Signs- Orange/brown is iron stain, if it's
blue/green.... that's copper again. White spots
dried indicate minerals (can you explain
why you don't see them in the water, only after the water drops
have dried?) Crusty??? That's called "scale" and indicates that
your water's pH is basic.
These are all of the common variables you will
find in tapwater. Some, like the minerals that can make water "hard"
also give it some taste, which most of us enjoy. There are other
substances that are also found in tapwater that come from it's
journey from the sky to your faucet. For most of these you need test
kits to find out if they're in your water. Click on Teacher's
Corner for info on these kits,go to
Resources to find out more than you might ever want to know,
or.....
Journey back through the pipes towards
THE
SOURCE.
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