Why Is My Tap Water Cloudy?

Have you ever had instances where the water from your taps is cloudy? If yes, this is not a problem that should worry you too much or force you to stop using the water. It's imperative first to understand that cloudy water is a common occurrence with hard water or municipally treated water.

To better understand this issue, this article gives you more details on why your tap water turns cloudy and how you can effectively solve the problem. Continue reading to learn more!

Causes of Cloudy Tap Water and Solutions

Here are some significant causes of cloudy tap water in your commercial or residential property in Brisbane, Australia.

Presence of air in the pipes

One of the major causes of cloudy tap water is the presence of air in your pipes. When there's air in the pipes, it points to high water pressure in your plumbing system. This excess pressure causes the air to become soluble, which mixes with the water to form air bubbles. As a result, the air bubbles give the tap water a cloudy appearance.

If this is the case, the cloudy water collected from your tap should be clear within a few seconds. Although cloudy water resulting from excess air pressure is safe for bathing, consumption, or cooking, it might lead to other issues. When there is excess water pressure, most of the water flowing out of your taps flows down the pipes unused. This, in turn, leads to a lot of water wastage and higher bills.

Additionally, excess high water pressure could also adversely affect your appliances. Your dishwasher, washing machine, and other devices connected to the piping system will likely wear down quickly. Consequently, you might incur avoidable costs by replacing them sooner than expected.

The pressure could also make spot removal solutions or appliance cleaning less effective. Therefore, if your water pressure is too high, it's advisable to deal with the issue ASAP to prevent the issue mentioned above. The best solution to this problem is to have an expert plumber install a high-pressure reducing valve in your plumbing system.

Cold weather

Excess cold weather outside could also cause cloudy water to flow from your taps. Low temperatures are a significant cause of cloudy tap water during the late autumn and winter as it lowers the water temperature supplied to your property.

In perspective, cold water usually holds more air than warm water. This is because air solubility increases when there is frigid weather resulting in the cloudy appearance of your tap water.

If the low temperature is the primary cause of the cloudy tap water, the issue will eventually resolve when the temperature increases during warmer seasons. However, if the issue persists despite increased temperatures, this might indicate another problem.

You get a supply of hard water

Besides aerated water and air bubbles, hard water is another common and harmless cause of cloudy tap water. Hard water features high levels of calcium and magnesium, among other minerals. If your household has a hard water supply, you might have noticed a light grey or chalky coating inside the fixtures and taps connected to your hot water system, such as sinks, bathtubs, and shower pans.

Showering and bathing using hard water might result in your skin cracking, drying up, and even being itchy. Also, prolonged hard water use could lead to hair loss, brittle hair, and other health issues. It is, however, safe for drinking. If the cloudy tap water fails to clear after a few minutes, hard water is the most likely reason.

You could have a professional plumber install a hard water filter in your plumbing system to solve the problem. These devices contain water softeners, polyphosphate scale inhibitors, and calcium treatment units, making them effective in significantly reducing the potential damage caused by hard water. They also prevent mineral build-ups on or in plumbing fixtures such as shower heads.

Presence of methane gas in your tap water

Generally, methane gas is not standard in household water supplies. However, it might be present if your property's water supply is near an active fracking site. The gas could also be introduced through contaminated groundwater and other activities. Methane contamination in the water supplies could result in cloudy water pipes.‍

‍Despite being highly flammable, methane gas dissipates rapidly when it rises to the top of the water and gets in contact with air. This, in turn, clears the cloudy appearance of the water. The cloudy appearance due to methane gas clears faster than when caused by excess air pressure or aeration. 

Accumulation of sediment

Calcium carbonate or sediment could also cause the hot water flowing from your taps to appear cloudy. Sediment and minerals at the bottom of your hot water system give the water a cloudy appearance, making it unfit for consumption. In contrast to cloudy water caused by aerated pipes and methane gas, the accumulation of sediment or minerals in your plumbing system causes the water to have a permanently cloudy look.

Consequently, irrespective of the time you allow the water to sit in a vessel or glass, the cloudy look will not clear. It's important to understand that although the sediment might not make the water unsafe for drinking, it could damage your water heater. This is because the build-up deteriorates your water tank and makes it prone to rusting.

If left unchecked, it reduces your hot water system's effectiveness and efficiency, shortening its lifespan. To resolve this issue, it's advisable to flush your water heater often to remove the sediment. Ideally, it is a task you could undertake on your own; however, leaving the job to a professional plumber is always advisable for effective results.

The high-level concentration of TSS in the water

High levels of concentration of TSS or total suspended solids in the water could also give your tap water a cloudy appearance. TSS are particles present in water supplies after treatment to make the water potable. The particulates might come from organic sources like algae or inorganic sources like sediment, silt, clay, and sand.

When municipal water treatment processes lag, or when there are high levels of contaminants, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, mercury, and lead attached to these solids. To resolve this problem, municipalities in Brisbane are taking the necessary care to ensure that the treatment process eliminates all the particulates in water supplies.

However, your tap water might still be cloudy because of chloramines, chlorine, and other cleaning agents. Consequently, if you suspect the water quality is the cause of the cloudy tap water, you should invest in a water filtration system for your entire house. This device effectively eliminates all the elements that might be causing the problem. Water filters lead to healthier water for drinking, bathing, and cooking.

Old galvanised pipes

Old galvanised water pipes could also result in cloudy tap water. If your home is old, chances are high that it has a rusty galvanised plumbing system that could be causing the cloudy tap water. When the pipes deteriorate, the rust mixes with your tap water, making it look milky or cloudy.

The water could also leave your sink with rusty stains. If rusty galvanised pipes cause the problem, contact an expert plumber to help replace them with new ones.

Water heater or tap problems

At times cloudy water might not be related to the water supply. For instance, if you notice that cloudy water only flows from a single tap, you should hire a plumber to diagnose the tap for problems and repair it. On the other hand, if the problem only occurs when running hot water, it could indicate that your water heater has an issue requiring instant repair.

Is Cloudy Tap Water Safe for Drinking?

While not all cloudy water is unfit for drinking, some might have harmful elements that make it unfit to drink. Therefore, avoiding consuming cloudy water is advisable if you haven't had a professional diagnose the problem. This is because the cause of the cloudiness determines whether the tap water is safe for drinking.

If the issue results from aeration or cold weather outside, then it is safe for drinking. In this instance, you only need to allow the water to stand for several minutes for the air bubbles to rise to the rim of the glass and disappear back into the air.

However, the water isn't fit for drinking if the cloudy tap water is caused by other issues such as sediment, the high-level concentration of TSS, or methane gas.

Need Help Diagnosing Cloudy Tap Water Problems?

If you have cloudy tap water in your home or business, you might need the help of a trustworthy plumbing contractor near you to diagnose the problem. This is necessary because the issue might point to a bigger problem with your water system or supply.

Professional plumbers have the skills and knowledge to diagnose and repair several water system problems. They could also quickly identify the cause of the cloudy tap water and offer a long-lasting solution. Additionally, they could also help resolve other plumbing issues that might affect the quality of the drinking water in your home or business.