Fizzy water - any ideas what's in my pipes?

[Gregp74]

Did you do one on the water you use to fill the tank as a comparison ?

Ah! No... I will do next time I'm on the boat though

 

[Sandydog2]

Ah! No... I will do next time I'm on the boat though

You can get up to date numbers online from the supply company for a given postcode in the meantime.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Can you describe the smell?

 

[Gregp74]

Can you describe the smell?

Honestly not really. It just tastes/smells not neutral - like there's something in it or happening to it that isn't in water normally. Sorry, I appreciate that's not that helpful!

 

[Cerebus]

Did you perform the same tests on tap or bottled water? For comparison.

 

[Sianna]

Could there be a leak in your calorifier, and you're getting some coolant mixing with it?

 

[Sandydog2]

Did you perform the same tests on tap or bottled water? For comparison.

No point in trying bottled water, only the water used to fill the tank.

 

[Cerebus]

No point in trying bottled water, only the water used to fill the tank.

By testing tap water or bottled water that is created for drinking you could find out if the results you just found were close to drinking water?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

A pH of 9 is not uncommon in UK drinking water and a quick google shows it to be within specification.

 

[morgandlm]

An interesting phenomenon! Is your pumping system aerating the water? Can you draw water from the system without running the pump?

 

[zoidberg]

Fizzy water - any ideas​

Prosecco...?

 

[Sandydog2]

By testing tap water or bottled water that is created for drinking you could find out if the results you just found were close to drinking water?

Bottled water is hugely variable, depending on the source. The results from the test strips look like normal hard tap water. The pH is on the high side but not out of spec. I am still not convinced the smell is from the water but don’t know if my suggestion from #15 was tried. I also thought about the calorifier but assumed it was the cold water that was affected. I sailed on a boat once that had salt water in the hot water from a cracked calorifier.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Until we know what the smell is there is no chance of defining the problem. One mans funny smell is another mans normal. I certainly isn't a sulphide as that would be pretty easy to describe, it could plasticiser from the pipes but given that they are described as being for drinking water unlikely.
Perhaps the definitive answer can only come from a full water analysis from a sealed sample.

 

[Sandydog2]

Until we know what the smell is there is no chance of defining the problem. One mans funny smell is another mans normal. I certainly isn't a sulphide as that would be pretty easy to describe, it could plasticiser from the pipes but given that they are described as being for drinking water unlikely.
Perhaps the definitive answer can only come from a full water analysis from a sealed sample.

You’d still have to tell the testing company what you wanted it tested for. You can’t just send a sample off and ask them to test for off-odours.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You’d still have to tell the testing company what you wanted it tested for. You can’t just send a sample off and ask them to test for off-odours.

you can ask for a test for potable water.

 

[Sandydog2]

It will be very expensive. Had a quick look online - about £215. I’m still not convinced it needs doing. If the water in the tank doesn’t smell I can’t see how it would get contaminated between the tank and the tap. I would be checking the water being used to fill the tank, a dip straight from the tank, plus one out of the boat tap and doing a proper test for off-odours on each as I described in post #15. Most people can smell off-odours at parts per million without difficulty.