Why California’s tap water can taste bad in the summer
Amid recent reports of so-called “forever chemicals” found in drinking water, it’s not hard to imagine that some people might be hypersensitive when it comes to the taste of their tap water this summer. If you do notice an odd taste, however, the reason might be more benign than you think. Complaints of an “earthy” or “musty” taste or smell might just be the result of a regular summer phenomenon for some of California’s water systems. The taste is due to the accelerated growth of some algae compounds in the warmer weather.