Top Reasons Why Your Water Could Be Cloudy
You’re parched, you grab a crystal clear glass from the cabinet and turn on your faucet. As you fill your glass you notice something is off. Your water is cloudy and it looks almost like a glass of milk if you squint hard enough.
Now you’re stuck wondering, is this cloudy tap water safe to drink?
Luckily, most of the time your cloudy water presents no threat to your health. Even if it doesn’t look as refreshing as you would like.
However, most of the time isn’t all of the time, and it’s up to you to do your due diligence. You might have to organize a little at-home science experiment or it could be as simple as turning on your local news station to figure out what’s wrong with your water.
Don’t Cloud Your Judgement: Check Your Water
Take that glass of cloudy water and set it aside. One of the most common causes of this problem is an excessive amount of air in your pipes. Tiny air bubbles can build up in your pipes and make your water look significantly less clear.
This is completely harmless and it’s easy to tell if your water has extra air in it. Leave your glass be for a little while and see if the water gradually clears up as the bubbles rise to the top of your water and enter the air.
According to the United States Geological Survey, your pipes may have increased air if they are “under a bit of pressure.” When your water travels from the higher pressure area into your glass, which has normal atmospheric pressure, the gasses will start to dissolve.
It can take up to 24 hours but if your water eventually clears, you can typically assume that just some extra air caused the cloudiness.
This air buildup can be more common during extremely cold weather. If your outdoor temperature drops super low, it can cause the water in your pipes to be colder. Cold water holds more air than warm water, making extra air bubbles more likely to appear during the wintertime.
Is Your Hard Water Causing Cloudiness?
If your water contains higher than normal levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium, it is considered “hard.” This kind of water is still completely safe to drink and often looks identical to soft water.
However, overtime it can lead to mineral buildups in your pipes. If you’ve had an accumulation of limescale in your plumbing it can result in cloudy tap water.
This water is still completely safe to drink but it will damage your pipes long term.
The simple solution to hard water is installing a water softener. This displaces the minerals with salt and prevents them from damaging your pipes.
Typically you can research if hard water is common in your area. According to Johnson Water Conditioning Company, the following states are most likely to experience hard water:
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
- Florida
How to Look Out for Sediments and Contaminants
If the cloudy water in your glass doesn’t appear clear after 24 hours, there is likely something more concerning going on with your tap water.
You could have harmful sediments in your water supply or pipes that should not be consumed.
Double check to see if the persistent cloudy water is coming from all of your faucets or just one. If it’s a singular faucet causing the issues, you should remove it and thoroughly clean it using a mixture of water and vinegar.
If it is coming from all of your faucets, then it could be an issue with the water supply or with your personal plumbing.
You should check with your water company or your city to see if there are water issues. Or check the news for information about water boiling requirements or warnings about dangerous water. Major storms or other unforeseen complications can result in temporarily unsafe drinking water.
If your water is an unsightly color such as green, yellow or brown – do not attempt drinking it all. If you can’t find the source of the issue, call your local plumber for help.
When in Doubt, a Plumber Will Find Out
If your tap water is consistently cloudy or discolored, it’s time to find a solution. An expert and experienced plumber will help you determine the difference from harmful water and a couple of extra air bubbles. Mike Wilson Plumbing provides advice and services in Richmond and Chesterfield County. Give us a call to address your cloudy water concerns.