“Why Does Our Water Taste Salty at Home?” – A Call from a Family

Last Friday, I got a call from a homeowner in Medavakkam, Chennai. He didn’t waste time on pleasantries.“Our borewell water tastes salty. We’ve tried changing filters and even boiling it, but nothing seems to help. The water just doesn’t feel drinkable.”

I asked him a few basic questions — how many people lived at home, what kind of system they currently had, and where their water was sourced from.

“We’re a family of four,” he said. “And we rely entirely on borewell water. Currently, we’re using a standard filter connected under the sink. But my wife and kids keep saying the water tastes weird. We’ve been buying cans lately.”

This was a familiar problem — one we hear every week.

The real problem: high TDS in borewell water

I asked, “Has your borewell water been tested?”

“No, we just assumed the filter would take care of everything,” he replied.

That assumption is exactly where most households go wrong. Standard sediment filters or UV filters can remove particles and kill bacteria, but they cannot remove salt, TDS, or that flat, brackish taste.

I explained, “The salty taste you’re experiencing comes from high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in your borewell water — minerals like sodium, chlorides, and sulphates. Unless you have a proper RO system, the taste will stay.”

Step one: water testing

We always insist on testing water before recommending a system. I told him to send a sample directly from the borewell source — before it enters the overhead tank.

The test results came back the next day:

TDS: 1280 ppm

Chloride: 520 ppm

I called him and said, “Now we know for sure. This isn’t just hard water — it’s salty borewell water. And your current system isn’t designed to treat that.”

The right fix: an automatic RO plant for home use

Most people think RO plants are only for hotels or big buildings. But we specialize in domestic RO water treatment plants — compact systems built for independent houses, apartments, and even villas.

For his family of four, I recommended a 500 LPH compact RO plant installed at the source — just before the water enters the overhead tank.

He asked, “Isn’t 500 LPH too much for us?”

Not at all. Here’s what I explained

"This is not just a kitchen reverse osmosis system. This is a centralized reverse osmosis system that provides clean, low TDS water to every tap in your home—suitable for drinking, cooking, bathing, and even brushing your teeth. Say goodbye to salty tasting water, dry hair, and white stains."

What about maintenance and space?

He was worried about space. “Where will it go? Will it take up too much room near the sump?”

I assured him

“This is a compact RO plant for independent houses, designed to fit neatly near your sump or water line. It’s automatic. Plus, we include a pre-filtration system to protect the RO and extend membrane life.”

Maintenance?

“The system backwashes itself and alerts you when service is due. And yes — we handle all maintenance with AMC options after the warranty.”

The result? Clean, great-tasting water — across the house

We installed the automatic RO plant within 3 days. His family was shocked at the difference.

“No more buying water cans. The taste is clean, and even the tea tastes better,” he said.

His wife noticed something else: there were no more white stains on the plates, and their hair and skin didn’t feel dry after bathing.

Takeaway: don’t guess. Salty water needs RO, not just filters

If your borewell or panchayat water tastes salty, a basic water filter won’t help. You need a domestic RO water treatment plant that removes excess salts and gives safe, good-tasting water for the whole house.

Watersparks is here exactly to help you with your water problems.