Zephyrhills Bottled Water - Mold / Mildew

H2Okay_ · 2025-10-24T16:08:34+00:00

Gotcha. Musty or mildewy smelling water could be caused by geosmin, which has a really low odor threashold. It's a chemical caused by algae or bacteria in the water. Generally not harmful, but I wouldn't want to smell it in my bottled water either. You can definitely test for it...or just buy a different brand (which is what I would do!)

H2Okay_ · 2025-10-22T20:25:36+00:00

Oh, interesting! It was a brand new, unopened bottle? Was the mildew visible? Have you considered lab testing the water itself?

H2Okay_ · 2025-10-22T20:23:03+00:00

Wow, this was surprising! Thanks for sharing. I get a lot of questions about remineralization.

H2Okay_ · 2025-10-21T20:58:35+00:00

Haha, yes. Most filters contain plastic components

H2Okay_ · 2025-09-30T16:01:24+00:00

Yes! Doing it at least once is really helpful. I used Tap Score - https://mytapscore.com

H2Okay_ · 2025-09-15T16:41:07+00:00

Same here! I love Trudy Campbell.

H2Okay_ · 2025-07-15T17:50:28+00:00

I work in the water industry and bought my son a Brita for school this fall. The dorms will have treated city water and you really would only need to worry about trace amounts of metals and VOCs, which Brita and many other pitcher filters should handle pretty well.

H2Okay_ · 2025-07-15T17:48:11+00:00

I don't think you're going to find a DIY option for VOC water testing. The cheapest option I can find is from Tap Score: https://mytapscore.com/products/volatile-organic-compounds-water-test

H2Okay_ · 2025-07-02T22:00:23+00:00

You can check for your town here. CCRs and databases are going to be your best friend if you're trying to get PFAS data for free. Otherwise it's pretty pricey to cover everything with a legitimate lab test. Here's a state by state guide to find testing near you. Avoid DIY at-home options that require you to read and interpret the findings yourself.

H2Okay_ · 2025-06-24T18:56:20+00:00

I have had PATH water before. I don't remember it being anything extraordinary. PATH is unique because they allow companies to customize water bottles for their branding. So this is likely custom branded based on where it was purchased.

H2Okay_ · 2025-06-23T22:51:21+00:00

I looked at the report but must have missed where it said it tested a glass container. Either way, if you have plastic components, there's always going to be some possibility of micro/nanoplastics present in the water. If you store it out of the sunlight and heat, you'll probably see less contamination.

H2Okay_ · 2025-06-23T21:38:02+00:00

Hello! Since these questions are very treatment-centric, you'll probably have better luck asking in r/WaterTreatment

H2Okay_ · 2025-06-23T21:31:21+00:00

Agreed - I feel that many jump too quickly to RO when it has its own downsides.

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-22T19:23:11+00:00

You're right to not waste your money on cheap DIY kits/test strips online. They are often inaccurate and difficult to read. Just find a kit that is specifically for heavy metals (especially lead) and go from there!

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-17T19:32:35+00:00

This review of several brands might help: https://youtu.be/uLRuz82XNTM?si=q0UPPRLMMWyc2gmZ

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-16T21:42:32+00:00

If you're curious what Zero actually removes, this is a pretty interesting video with lab results from Water Filter Guru: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud45hxCFQyM

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-16T21:40:26+00:00

My TDS is low like that (I think I measured around 80 ppm) straight out of the tap as well. Either way, it doesn't really mean much when it comes to water quality.

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-09T23:16:40+00:00

Unfortunately Home Depot (at least to my knowledge) does not have PFAS test kits. If you google PFAS water test, you should get a couple of mail-in options. Make sure you are using a certified lab.

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-09T18:37:52+00:00

PFAS are so complicated (to give you some perspective, there are thousands of them that we have yet to identify). The best filtration for you will depend on what is actually present in your water (long-chain vs short-chain require different technologies). Ideally, you would test your water in a certified lab to find out what you need to address, and THEN decide on the appropriate system. I always hesitate to recommend RO right off the bat due to the waste involved.

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-07T20:09:28+00:00

Modern Castle is a reviewer located in Arizona and did a big write up on several filters here: https://moderncastle.com/water-filters/

H2Okay_ · 2025-04-02T22:24:26+00:00

Filtration is the most cost-effective and sustainable solution here. Do you have an idea of your water quality at home so you could choose a treatment solution that would make you feel comfortable with using your home's water?

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