Knowledge Base

 

Milky white water, also commonly described as cloudy, hazy, soapy, or foamy is almost always caused by air in the water. One of the many properties of water is its ability to dissolve gases-including air. Sometimes the air comes back out of the water in the form of many tiny bubbles; this gives the water a milky white appearance. 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 water for 2 or 3 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 will clear all the way to the top. This is a natural phenomenon and is completely normal; the water is safe to use. This situation can happen when the water gets cold, or whenever the water has been turned off for repairs. Cold water holds more dissolved air than warm water. In the winter and spring, the water is cold and contains a relatively high level of dissolved air. As the water moves through the water mains in the street and the pipes in your house, it begins to warm up and lose some of its ability to keep the air dissolved. However, because the water is under pressure in the pipes, the air remains in the water. When you relieve the pressure by opening the faucet and filling your glass with water, the air is now free to escape from the water, giving it a milky appearance for a few minutes. Another way for this milky white water to form is after your water utility has worked on the water main (i.e. flushing) or you have had work done on you plumbing. When the water is shut off, air can get into the water main or your pipes. When the water pressure is restored, some of the air dissolves into the water. When you again relieve the pressure by opening the faucet and filling your glass of water, the air is now free to escape from the water thus giving it a milky white appearance for a few minutes. If your water is cloudy/milky and does not clear in a glass after 5 minutes, you should call the village of Chatham water department for testing.