Why your well water tastes salty, and what to do about it
A salty taste usually means chloride above about 250 mg/L. Common sources are road salt, a water softener, and natural salt in the rock. Sulfate can taste salty too. Test for chloride, sodium, and sulfate. Because salt can also come from sewage, test for bacteria and nitrate at the same time.
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Step 1: Check your water softener first
If you have a softener, taste water from a tap that bypasses it, such as an outside spigot. If that water tastes fine, the softener is the source.
Softeners add sodium as they remove hardness. Penn State Extension says it's about 7.5 mg of sodium per quart for each grain of hardness removed. The Wisconsin DNR also lists a malfunctioning softener that overloads the septic system as one way chloride reaches groundwater.
Step 2: Think about what's near your well
The Wisconsin DNR and Virginia Cooperative Extension list these sources:
- Road salt. Ask yourself: was a lot of salt spread on nearby roads or the driveway last winter? Wisconsin says shallow well casings and bedrock near the surface make this more likely.
- Natural salt in the rock. Some wells, such as those in Wisconsin's granite bedrock, draw naturally salty water.
- Seawater. In coastal areas, salt water can move into freshwater aquifers.
- Sewage, fertilizer, or industrial waste. Virginia Cooperative Extension says high chloride can point to these.
- Gas drilling brines. Penn State lists these as a source in some areas.
The EPA suggests testing for chloride, total dissolved solids, and sodium if you notice a salty taste near the coast or a heavily salted road.
What the numbers mean
| Test | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Chloride | Over 250 mg/L | EPA's secondary guideline. Salty taste. Virginia Cooperative Extension says high levels speed corrosion of pipes, pumps, and water heaters. |
| Sulfate | Over 250 mg/L | EPA's secondary guideline. EPA lists a salty taste. Penn State and Minnesota add a bitter taste and a laxative effect. |
| Sodium | Over 20 mg/L | EPA guidance for people on low-sodium diets |
| Total dissolved solids | Over 500 mg/L | EPA's secondary guideline. Salty taste, deposits, staining. |
Chloride isn't considered a health risk at these levels. Sodium matters if you're on a sodium-restricted diet. Virginia Cooperative Extension says to talk to your doctor if that's you.
For babies, the Minnesota Department of Health says to use water with sulfate under 500 mg/L for formula. Babies are more sensitive to sulfate than adults.
Step 3: Test for salt and for what may have come with it
Ask the lab for chloride, sodium, sulfate, and total dissolved solids. Virginia Cooperative Extension says that if contamination is suspected, test for bacteria and other chemicals too. Add nitrate if sewage or fertilizer could be the source. The Wisconsin DNR pairs chloride and nitrate tests when sewage is suspected.
The EPA notes your local health department may test for free.
Fix the source if you can, then treat drinking water
| Option | What it does | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Reroute salty runoff | Keeps road and driveway salt away from the well | Virginia Cooperative Extension says this can prevent contamination. |
| Fix or reset the softener | Stops extra salt from the softener | Soften only hot water if you want low-sodium drinking water. |
| Reverse osmosis at one tap | Removes most chloride and sodium from drinking water | Virginia Cooperative Extension says 80 to 90% of the water going in ends up down the drain, units without an automatic shut-off valve can be wasteful, and the membrane lasts 3 to 5 years. |
| Distillation | Removes salts by boiling and condensing | Slow, and the water tastes flat. |
| Deeper casing, liner, or new well | Gets below the salty water | Penn State says chloride is very hard to remove and suggests considering a new water source. |
When to call a pro
Call a licensed well driller if road salt or natural salt is the source. Wisconsin lists a well liner, a deeper well, or a change in casing depth as fixes. Call your local health department if you think sewage may be the cause.
Questions people ask
Is salty well water safe to drink?
Chloride isn't considered a health risk at the levels that make water taste salty. Sodium can matter if you're on a low-sodium diet. A sudden salty taste is worth a bacteria and nitrate test, since salt can also come from sewage.
Can a water softener make my water taste salty?
It can. Softeners add sodium, and the Wisconsin DNR lists a malfunctioning softener as one source of chloride. Taste water from a tap that bypasses the softener to check.
Does boiling remove salt from water?
No. Minnesota warns that boiling can concentrate contaminants such as nitrate and arsenic. Distillation, which boils the water and collects the steam, is the method Virginia Cooperative Extension lists. Minnesota says distillation leaves sulfate behind too.
Will road salt in my well go away?
None of our sources give a timeline. Virginia Cooperative Extension says using less deicing salt near the well and rerouting runoff away from it can lower levels. Retest to see if it's working.
Where this comes from
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Sodium and Chloride in Household Drinking Water
- Wisconsin DNR, My Water Tastes Salty
- Penn State Extension, Common Drinking Water Problems and Solutions
- EPA, Secondary Drinking Water Standards
- EPA, Protect Your Home's Water
- Minnesota Department of Health, Sulfate in Well Water
- Penn State Extension, Water Softening
- Wisconsin DNR, My Water Smells Like Sewage
- Minnesota Department of Health, Bacterial Safety of Well Water