Water tastes metallic: how to work out where it comes from
A metal taste is rarely an emergency, but it is a clue. Where and when you taste it points to the cause.
Metallic-tasting tap water usually comes from metal in your pipes or fittings, or from iron in the supply. Start by checking whether it is every tap or just one, and whether it is hot, cold or both. That single step rules out most causes.
Run the cold tap for a minute first. Then taste a glass from the tap and compare it with a glass from another tap in the house.
Only the first water of the morning
Water that sat in the pipes overnight can pick up a metal taste from the pipe or the tap itself. If the taste fades after you run the tap for a short time, the cause is standing water and old fittings. Flushing the tap before you fill the kettle is the simple fix.
One tap only
If a single tap tastes metallic and the rest are fine, the problem is local. A worn tap body, an old flexible hose or a failing cartridge can all add a taste. Replacing a tap or its connections is licensed work in most places, so book a plumber rather than pulling it apart.
Every tap, cold and hot
A taste at every tap points to the supply or to the pipes that feed the whole house. Ask a neighbour whether they notice it too. If they do, the cause may be in the mains, so contact your water authority and ask about recent works or changes.
Only the hot water
If cold tastes fine and hot does not, look at the hot water system. Sediment or corrosion inside the tank can change the taste. Do not open the system or touch anything inside its cover. A licensed plumber can flush and inspect it.
Bore, tank or dam water
Bore water often carries dissolved iron, which tastes of metal and can leave orange stains. Do not decide it is only a taste problem. Taste and colour tell you nothing about safety, so only an accredited (NATA) laboratory test can show what is in that water. Until you have a result, treat it as not for drinking. Our page on drinking bore water explains what a lab checks.
What not to do
Do not keep drinking water that tastes strongly of metal and assume it will pass. Do not buy a filter before you know the cause, because a filter treats a taste, not a fault. If you do want to try one, read about the carbon filter first, since it will not remove every kind of contaminant.
When to ask for help
Call your water authority if neighbours notice it or the taste appears suddenly. Call a licensed plumber if it is limited to your property. A clear description (which taps, hot or cold, since when) gets you a faster answer.
A five-minute taste check you can do yourself
You need two clear glasses and a pen. The aim is to turn a vague complaint into facts a plumber or your water authority can use.
- Run the cold kitchen tap for a minute. That clears water that sat in the pipes overnight, so you are tasting what is really coming in.
- Fill a glass and taste it. Then fill a second glass from a different cold tap in the house and compare. Same taste means the cause is probably upstream. A different taste points at one tap.
- Repeat with the hot tap. Let it run a little first. If only the hot water tastes of metal, the hot water system is the place to look.
- Ask a neighbour. If they notice it too, the cause may be in the mains, so the water authority is the right call.
- Write it down. Note which taps, hot or cold, the time of day and since when. A clear description gets a faster answer.
- Stop there. Do not take taps or fittings apart. That is licensed work in most places.
If you use bore water, read can you drink bore water before you drink any more of it.
Who to call for each result
What you found in the taste check tells you who can help. Use this table to pick the right call first time.
| What you found | Likely area | Who to call | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fades after running the tap | Standing water and old fittings | Nobody yet | Flush the tap before filling the kettle |
| One tap only | Tap body, flexible hose or cartridge | Licensed plumber | Note which tap and leave the parts alone |
| Every tap, cold and hot | Supply or the pipes feeding the house | Water authority | Ask neighbours and ask about recent works |
| Hot water only | Sediment or corrosion in the tank | Licensed plumber | Do not open the cover |
| Bore, tank or dam water | Dissolved iron or other contaminants | Accredited NATA laboratory | Treat it as not for drinking until tested |
| Sudden and strong | Possible supply change | Water authority | Stop drinking it until you know the cause |
A filter treats a taste, not a fault, so work out the cause before you buy one.
Frequently asked questions
Is metallic-tasting tap water safe to drink?
Often it is only an aesthetic problem, but you cannot tell by taste. If it is sudden, strong or affects the neighbours too, contact your water authority before drinking it.
Why does my water taste like metal in the morning?
Water sitting in pipes and fittings overnight can pick up a metal taste. Running the tap for a short time usually clears it.
Why does only my hot water taste metallic?
The hot water system may hold sediment or corrosion. A licensed plumber can flush and inspect it. Do not open it yourself.
Does bore water taste of metal?
It can, because bore water often contains dissolved iron. A taste says nothing about safety, so only an accredited laboratory test can tell you.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- NHMRC. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
- Sydney Water. Water supply, wastewater and stormwater services