Is Cloudy Water Safe to Drink?

If your tap water looks cloudy or milky, it’s natural to wonder whether it’s safe to drink. However, in many cases, it’s nothing to worry about. While many causes of cloudy water do not compromise its safety,  there are simple ways to get clearer, great-tasting water back in your glass.

What Makes Tap Water Cloudy?

Cloudy tap water usually comes from one of three common causes:

1. Aeration

If you take a close look at your water and see that the cloudy appearance is actually tiny bubbles, your issue is likely with aeration. This cloudy tap water is also called “white water.”

All water has dissolved oxygen — that’s the “O” in “H2O.” However, in some cases, that air may shift back to its gaseous state and cause cloudiness in your drinking water. This may happen more often with hot or warm water; that’s because cold water has a greater capacity for holding air, which means it can absorb and hold more oxygen and therefore doesn’t need to release the excess as bubbles.

But those tiny air bubbles are nothing to worry about. They’re harmless to drink, and they’ll dissipate from the bottom of your glass upward and leave your water clearer.

2. Hard Water

If cloudiness doesn’t clear up after water has been allowed to settle, you may have hard water — one of the most common water problems for well and city water users alike.

Hard water is caused by high levels of calcium and magnesium. When hard water is heated in your water heater, they form limescale, a hard, chalky deposit that builds up in pipes and fixtures. This buildup can cause a cloudy appearance that doesn’t dissipate like tiny bubbles of trapped air would.

Hard water comes with other signs, too — like brittle hair, dry skin, soap scum, spotty dishes and more.

3. Sediment

Cloudiness can also be caused by high levels of silt or clay in your water. This occurs when your water travels through the supply network, whether from a municipal source or your own well. Along the way, the water might gather sediment from its surroundings — and if that sediment doesn’t fully dissolve, the result could be cloudy water. Depending on the amount, you could also notice particles floating in your drinking water.

Is Cloudy Tap Water Safe?

A glass of cloudy water may not look refreshing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a hazard to your health. Water safety depends on many factors; however, when cloudiness is your main issue, there are a few specific things to consider:

• Aeration: If your cloudy water really is caused by excess air, you don’t have to worry. The water’s appearance doesn’t mean it isn’t safe to drink.
• Hard water: While high hardness levels don’t necessarily make water unsafe to drink, this water can still be an irritant to your skin and hair — not to mention your home’s plumbing.
• Sediment: The sediment that causes cloudiness isn’t necessarily harmful, but it can help create environments where pathogens like to grow.  

Cloudiness that lingers, or is accompanied by unusual color or odor, could point to other issues. If your water looks brown, green or yellow, or if it has a metallic or musty smell, it may contain sediment, rust or contaminants. In these cases, it’s best to avoid drinking it until you’ve had a professional water test performed to help identify the cause of cloudiness in your tap water.

Fixing Cloudy Tap Water

Once you have a water test performed and can confidently identify the cause of your cloudy water, it’s time to get to work. Depending on the underlying issue, there are two types of solutions to choose from.

Whole-House Filtration

If sediment is causing your water to retain that unpleasant appearance, you may need a whole-home filtration system. These systems are installed where your water enters your home, so they can filter all the water you use for cleaning, bathing and drinking. This helps reduce the presence of sediment, leading to clearer water.

Water Softening

If your water test informs you that hard water is actually the issue, a water softener is the better option for your home. These systems take out the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water, leaving your water soft. Some advanced softening systems even allow you to change the settings and control your water’s hardness level yourself.

Both

Note that water softeners and water filtration systems aren’t mutually exclusive. Because they address different problems, they can and do work together quite nicely — so if you want soft, cleaner water, you can double up on your water solutions.

Schedule Your Free Water Test Today

Whenever there’s any question about the safety of your drinking water, even if you suspect the issue is caused by tiny bubbles of excess air, it’s best to be safe. A free, in-home water test can give you valuable insights about your water quality, answering questions about water’s hardness levels and the potential causes of cloudiness. Ready to get started? Schedule your free in-home water test and consultation.