We sometimes say, “This water tastes good!” It is a widespread perception among Koreans that tap water does not taste good. Some people only drink a certain type of bottled water because they find it tastes different. Can water really have different tastes? If so, what would be the reason?

The tap water or bottled water that we drink is not pure water. Pure water only consists of water molecules without impurities. You can get almost pure water at places like pharmacies in Korea, but it is difficult to find pure water in everyday life. Various substances are mixed or dissolved in the water we usually have in our daily lives. It also contains invisible bacteria.

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Theoretically, water has no taste or smell. If you drink distilled water, almost the same as pure water, you will not really taste anything. The reason why we think that water has a taste and sometimes judge the taste of water is not because of the taste of the water itself, but because of the various components in the water or the context in which we are drinking it.

One factor that can affect its taste is minerals, including calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and iron. The label of store-bought bottled water shows the mineral content.

Each product has a slightly different mineral content, and such difference can determine the taste of water. Magnesium has a significant effect on the taste of water. Magnesium-rich water tastes bitter. Sodium gives a salty taste, while iron and copper contribute to a metallic taste.

Water hardness is the amount of dissolved magnesium and calcium in the water. Water hardness is high the more calcium and magnesium content. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has classified water with a hardness level exceeding 180 as very hard water, water with a hardness of 120-180 as hard water, water with a hardness of 60-120 as moderately hard water, and water with a hardness level lower than 60 as soft water.

In general, the higher the hardness, the stronger the bitter and chalky taste. If the mineral content is too high, the water will most likely taste bad. Water with a low hardness level has a light and soft taste. When brewing tea or coffee, the taste may vary depending on the hardness of the water used. This is why people choose hard or soft water depending on their preferences.

However, the taste of the same water may be felt differently depending on the person and situation. This is because taste is inherently subjective. For instance, one factor that greatly affects the taste of water is temperature. Cold water often tastes better than lukewarm water. It is hard to pinpoint which water tastes good, as there are many factors that affect its taste, such as the weather, the accompanying food, and one’s mood. Think about the story Wonhyo and Water in a Skull.

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Many of the ingredients in water affect other characteristics as well. For example, hard water does not produce a good lather. It may also leave soap residue. In Europe where limestone is widespread, the water is naturally rich in minerals. After washing dishes with tap water in Europe, you will see white spots on the dishes once they dry. This is because calcium in the water turns into calcium carbonate and accumulates. If you wash with hard water for a long time, your hair and skin may become brittle. Conversely, if you wash with soft water, soap lathers well, but it may feel slippery as though the soap was not properly washed away.

Some bottled water contains fluoride, which is used to make toothpaste as it helps prevent tooth decay. Because of this, many countries have implemented policies to introduce fluoride in tap water. Some studies have found that tooth decay rates have gone down in these areas. However, it is still a controversial issue as it may not be that effective and can be harmful to health.

The fact that the tap water contains chlorine is already widely known. Chlorine is a toxic substance that was used to make poison gas in the past. It is used to provide safe water by killing germs, and still some chlorine is left in the tap water in homes. However, you do not need to worry as the content is insignificant and the element evaporates quickly. If water smells like chlorine, it means the water is free of germs. Chlorine can be quickly removed by boiling the water. However, you should not leave the boiled water for too long as bacteria can grow from that point on.