What problems can dissolved substances cause in water?

Dissolved substances in water can significantly impact its quality, taste, and odor. Many compounds, such as organic materials, minerals, and pollutants, can impart unpleasant tastes or odors, making the water less palatable and often unsuitable for consumption. For instance, certain dissolved organic compounds can lead to tastes that are often described as musty or earthy, while the presence of specific minerals can create metallic tastes. This can deter individuals from drinking tap water and might necessitate the use of additional treatment processes to improve water quality for consumption.

Cloudiness often stems from suspended particles rather than dissolved substances, while excessive acidity and increased alkalinity relate more to overall water chemistry and can be influenced by ions in solution but do not directly relate to taste and odor problems in the same way.