Cloudy Water

Tap water can sometimes appear cloudy. Cloudy water, also commonly described as milky white, hazy, soapy or foamy, is usually caused by air in the water. This can occur naturally and is caused by dissolved air in the water that is released when the faucet is opened. When you relieve the pressure by opening the faucet and fill your glass with water, the air is now free to escape from the water. Because cold water holds more air than warm water, small bubbles will appear in water that is heated or depressurized because this reduces how much dissolved gas the water can hold. This can also occur during the time of year when the water that is coming into the house is colder than the temperature inside the house. When the cold water from the water mains outside comes inside our warm homes the water begins to warm and the oxygen has to escape. It does so by bubbling out in air bubbles which makes the water look milky.

The presence of air can sometimes also be traced to pipeline repairs in the area.

To see if the “white” color in the water is due to air, fill a clear glass with water and set it on the counter. Observe the glass of water for several minutes. If the “white” color is due to air, the water will begin to clear at the bottom of the glass first and then gradually clear all the way to the top. If the cloudiness does not clear after several minutes, call our water quality personnel at (309) 752-1520.