NYC apartment building. 6 units. Up to code. Owners raised their kids here. No doubt there’s no lead pipes. I’ve been aware for months that the cold water feed smells off. I’m weirdly hypersensitive to chlorine- it’s in the water here. ( Probably everywhere… ) This isn’t an elevated level of chlorine. It smells moldy.
The hot water side doesn’t smell. Even if I fill a mug with hot tap water and let it cool and smell it. But man…the cold water side smells funky. Time to install an under-the-sink filter of some kind?
I didn’t pick through all these articles, but you’re not the only person asking this question. Some articles are blaming it on some tunnel repairs, some on algae blooms (which shouldn’t be an issue in winter, I’d imagine). It does seem odd that it doesn’t happen with the hot water. Do you have a single water line coming into your apartment and your own water heater? If you do, that would make troubleshooting easier. Have you asked any of your neighbors if it’s happening to them? Do you have a reservoir on top of the building that may need cleaning? Does it happen with other faucets as well? That is, does the cold water from your bathroom sink taste the same? If it’s only one sink, I’d check the aerator to make sure there’s nothing funky growing in there. And, this is going to sound dumb, but if you fill a glass of water and drink it walk away from the faucet/kitchen, does it still taste bad? Long shot, but I’m curious if there’s something in your drain (or under/near the sink) that you’re smelling.
You could try calling 311 or reporting it here and see what they have to say. Maybe look into getting a test kit?
PS even though it’s unlikely, I’d check the aerator before adding the under sink filter, if only because if there is mildew in there, removing the chlorine could make it worse.
Out of curiosity, I wonder what would happen if you heated the (cold) tap water, let it cool back off and then tasted it. That would (sort of) simulate running the ‘bad’ water through the water heater.
I’d certainly install a filter if it were me and I had any question. I have one, and I love it - it was a gift from my father years ago. I can taste a big difference in the unfiltered water. Maybe try a Brita or PUR first and see if there’s an improvement.
A couple of times, I’ve had water at a restaurant that tasted moldy. I sent it back both times and told them why. One of the places is a dinner pub I regularly go to. It hasn’t tasted moldy again.
Especially since hot water is just heated cold water.
How does it taste out of the garden hose? I wonder if it’s something in your house, or something from your local water utility? You can always give them a call and ask them if something’s gone on recently and they’ll let you know.