You don’t need a lab coat. Just a clean glass jar and your trusty senses. Fill it halfway and sniff it. If it smells like a public pool, that’s chlorine. If it smells like rotten eggs, that’s sulfur—common in well water.
Now look at it. Hold it up to the light. If it’s cloudy or has floaty bits, you’ve got sediment or maybe rust from old pipes. Jenna’s water looked clear, but she learned appearances can be deceiving.
Finally, taste a tiny sip. Yeah, it sounds weird, but your tongue is a cheap testing kit. A metallic taste might mean iron or copper. A salty taste? Could be high mineral content. Write down what you notice.
The “Gulp & Go” Checklist
• Smell test: Chlorine? Sulfur? Musty?
• Sight test: Cloudy? Particles? Colored?
• Taste test: Metallic? Salty? Chemical?
