To tell if tap water is unsafe, the best way to check is to have it tested professionally. But there are sure signs you can tell it yourself. If it is cloudy or with a color, it is unsafe for drinking. If it smells, don’t drink it as well. No matter where you are, these little tips would always come in handy. You may be in the coastal wonders of Costa Blanca. Or you may be on the scenic beaches of Malaga. Wherever you may be, these tips are helpful. You should know that the most accurate way to determine the safety of water is to test it professionally. But this is something you and I cannot do every time. As such, remember these few helpful tips. Here are a few signs that your tap water is not safe for drinking. Watch out for the Color One of the sure signs that something is wrong with your tap water is its color. Tap water that is safe for drinking should be clear. Here, I will tell you about what it means when your tap water is anything but clear. Cloudy One of the best ways to identify contaminated tap water is its turbidity. In other words, check its cloudiness. If the water that comes out of the tap is cloudy, that may be unsafe to drink. Remember that not all cloudy water is unsafe. There are water sources in other places that produce cloudy yet potable tap water. But just to be safe, if it is cloudy, leave it alone. Cloudy tap water could mean it comes with unsafe pathogens and/or chemicals. Yellow/Orange/Brown Sometimes, the water that comes out of the tap can be yellowish. Yellowish tap water can mean a lot of things. One possibility is that it may contain chromium-6. This is a chemical that causes cancer. Also, yellowish water can be because of iron buildup. It can be manganese, copper, or even lead. When you have orange or brown tap water, this could also signal the presence of some chemicals. Also, orange or brown water can signify the presence of rust. And if there is something about rust, it is that it can be breeding grounds for bacteria. A Tinge of Green or Blue Sometimes, tap water can have a tinge of green or blue. When you see this, this means danger. Steer clear. A tinge of blue or green can mean elevated levels of copper contained in the tap water. This can be due to a lot of things. Corroded pipes are one of the most common reasons. Note that copper is not generally bad for you. This is as long as they come in small doses. But when the level of copper content is high, this can mean health issues. Some of these health concerns can lead to anemia, liver damage, or even kidney damage. Smell It The other sense you can use in identifying unsafe water is the sense of smell. Try to smell the tap water. It should not smell funny. Tap water should not smell bad. Read on to know more. The Rotten Egg Smell This should be obvious for everyone. But just to give you an idea, tap water that smells like rotten eggs is unsafe. The same is true with tap water that smells like sewage. When it smells, it may contain hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that naturally occurs mostly in groundwater. Sometimes, this gas can accidentally expose itself to certain types of bacteria. When it does, it converts into sulfate. Sulfate, when ingested, can cause dehydration. It can also cause diarrhea. The Fishy Smell One chemical is barium. The other is cadmium. When tap water smells fishy, it could mean an excess of any of these two dangerous chemicals. Barium is a chemical that naturally occurs and seeps mostly into the water supply. In small doses, barium may not account for much. But at high levels, it can cause an increase in blood pressure. It can also cause muscle weakness. At its worst, it can lead to kidney and/or liver damage. Another chemical in fishy-smelling water is cadmium. This chemical is usually in lead and copper ores. When in huge quantities, it can leak into pipes. This, too, can cause kidney and/or liver damage. Also, this can be dangerous to your bones. Aside from smelling it, there’s another way to find out. Pour tap water into a glass, then go to another room. Swirl the water around and then smell it. If the water still retains the fishy smell, this only means one thing – contaminants. Touch It Another way to check for contaminants in your tap water is to wash your hands with it. Hard water, most of the time, is unsafe for drinking. Hard water contains high levels of manganese and lead. When you wash your hands with hard water, your hands can remain slimy. This is despite using soap and rinsing them with water. There are rare times when hard water can only contain calcium or magnesium. And this is safe. But this is something you would not know. So, to be safe, if it’s slimy, don’t drink it. Taste It Not all tap water that looks clean is clean. If it has a metallic taste, it can contain metals. Some of these are iron, manganese, or zinc. At times, metallic-tasting water can also contain copper or even lead. Remember that most of these contaminants are invisible to the naked eye. Most of the time, a tap water source can contain more than one dangerous chemical. This makes it hard for many to assess the risks. To be safe, be familiar with your water source. And always check quality reports. That should keep you safe.