Why Is My Tap Water Cloudy?

Our lives revolve around having access to clean drinking water 24/7, especially at home. So when your tap water suddenly seems cloudy, it’s reasonable to be concerned about any safety risks associated with drinking it.

Luckily, your local plumbing experts at Terry’s Plumbing can help ease any worries you have about using and consuming cloudy water. Read on to learn more about your water quality!

Causes Of Cloudy Water

Air Bubbles – Cloudy water that clears from the bottom of the glass to the top within minutes after pouring means your water has air bubbles. When air is trapped in pipes, it finds an escape route through your faucets. This is usually caused by recent plumbing work or increased water pressure.
Hard Water – If you have tap water that doesn’t clear up and leaves visible white spots on dishes or appliances, that’s hard water. This means it contains high amounts of dissolved minerals, like magnesium and calcium. Rainwater collects those minerals as it travels to water sources (like rivers, lakes and aquifers), where it remains until it reaches your home. Certain geographical areas have higher concentrations of minerals in their water than others.
Sediment – If you can see things floating in your water that won’t settle, but clear up when sent through a filter, there is sediment in it. High concentrations of sediment in tap water are commonly caused by disturbances near the municipal water supply, like construction, or runoff. Sediment levels are measured in total suspended solids (TSS) and include:

Natural sediment
Silt
Clay
Iron
Algae
Manganese

Safety Concerns

We use water to drink, eat, bathe and maintain the general health and cleanliness of our family, home and pets on a daily basis. So, it’s natural to wonder whether cloudy water is safe to use.

Most people whose water has excess dissolved minerals notice that it leaves stains on clothing, appliances and plumbing fixtures. They also may not like the way it tastes, making hard water more of an annoyance than a serious health risk. Air bubbles also should not be a reason for alarm. Because they are caused by pressurized air in water pipes, the bubbles are harmless and often go away on their own. However, bacteria growth is a risk in water with high TSS concentrations.

Testing your water will let you know of any impurities in it. But water quality can quickly change, so there is a chance the test results will no longer be accurate by the time you receive them.

Clearing The Cloudiness

A quality water filter is the best way to eliminate contaminants from your tap water. Softeners, UV lights and reverse-osmosis systems are commonly used to filter the water as it enters your home. They will remove minerals, sediments and, depending on which one you choose, even bacteria, fluoride and other invisible toxins.

If having a water filtration system installed isn’t in the cards for you, purchasing a water filtering pitcher from the store OR boiling your water is another way to remove anything in it.

Pittsburgh Plumbing Services

Our city is known for having extremely hard water, so many homes and businesses in the area use water softeners to filter out the extra minerals. Our team, at Terry’s Plumbing, knows how important it is to have access to good-quality water in your home. We can help find the solution best suited to your needs and budget, install it or perform repairs and maintenance on your existing system. Contact us today for more information!