A few months ago I noticed a lingering, weird taste in my mouth. At first I thought it was possible diabetes, then I thought it was a side effect from my medication that I had never experienced before. Then I thought it was because I was grinding my teeth. Till one day the taste was really strong, and it was right after I had taken a drink of water from my pitcher purifier that I keep in the fridge and fill from the sink. I took the lid off and the water was tinted brown. I was horrified. Since the weird taste started, I have been very lethargic, I've had very bad stomach aches and have had a hard time keeping food in my stomach. I thought I was going crazy. The water never looked brown before, but it was definitely from the water. I stopped using water from my sinks 2 weeks ago and feel so much better. What is this gunk in my water? Would it have had an effect on my health since I had been drinking it often, every day, for months? :confused:

It could possibly affect you like that. There must be some kind of dissolved chemical or mineral in your water. You did not mention if this was city water or well water from you own well. Do you live in the country and have your own well? If so, you need to contact the county health dept and have your water tested for any kind of contaminants.

I once was traveling in Calif and stopped at a rest area in the semi-desert and drank some water from a water fountain and filled up a gallon jug with more of the water while I was there. About a week later I went back through and stopped at the same rest area and saw a huge sign posted that said the water was contaminated with arsenic! It was not my imagination that I had been sick for a week - I had been made ill from the water from that rest area.

It's city water. I think it may have something to do with the pipes in this old house.

What you need to do is get the water tested to find out what is going on.