Home / Common plumbing problems / Cloudy tap water
Plumbing problem
Why is my tap water cloudy?
The short answer
USGS says cloudy water is usually tiny air bubbles. Water in pressurized pipes holds dissolved air, which comes out as bubbles at the lower pressure of your glass, then rises and clears (USGS). A glass left on the counter tells you whether that is what you are seeing: air clears from the bottom up (Seattle Public Utilities). Water that does not clear is a different case.
What people usually report
Milky or white water straight from the tap, often from the cold side and often in winter. Sometimes it comes with sputtering after plumbing work or after the water was shut off. Less often the water looks foamy at one sink, or there is white or gray grit in the glass or the aerator.
What official sources say the causes can include
- Dissolved air. The most common explanation USGS gives (U.S. Geological Survey). Seattle notes it tends to happen in winter, when the water is cold (Seattle Public Utilities).
- Air trapped after plumbing work or main repairs. Sputtering after recent plumbing work usually means air trapped when the pipes refilled, and it should clear as the water is used. If neighbors have the same problem near utility work on the main, the cause may be air in the main or fine silt (Seattle Public Utilities).
- Detergent on the faucet. Foamy water at one kitchen faucet can be dish detergent splashed onto it (Seattle Public Utilities). EPA’s secondary standards list “frothy, cloudy” water among the effects of foaming agents (U.S. EPA).
- Particles from the water heater. Gray sediment from the hot tap may come from an overheating tank (Seattle Public Utilities), and white particles in an aerator can point to a failed dip tube (City of Bremerton).
How to find out
- The glass test. Fill a clean, clear glass from the cold tap and let it sit on the counter. If it clears from the bottom first, the cause is air in the lines (Seattle Public Utilities).
- One tap or all of them. Foam at one faucet points to that faucet. Foam at every faucet is a call to the utility; Seattle asks customers to save some water for the inspector and not to drink or cook with it until it is checked (Seattle Public Utilities).
- Check the aerator. Unscrew it and look for white or gray particles.
If the water does not clear, or you are on a well:
- On public water: read your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report. EPA requires community water systems to send one to customers every year by July 1, and you can look yours up with EPA’s CCR search tool or call the utility (U.S. EPA).
- For a lab test: EPA links each state’s drinking water laboratory certification program, which lists certified labs you can pay to test a sample (U.S. EPA).
- On a private well: EPA and CDC both say to test at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH, and to test again after any change in taste, odor, or color (U.S. EPA; CDC). EPA does not regulate private wells; your state or local health department can help.
Grit from the hot side can be a water heater question. See water heater noises and water heater replacement cost.
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Local help
Who to contact
If you are on a public water system, your water utility is the first call for anything that affects the water itself. Its phone number is on your bill and in its annual water quality report.
For work on the pipes and fixtures inside your home, hire a licensed plumber and confirm the license before work starts. Our guide to choosing a plumber covers what to ask. License lookups for the areas our city pages cover:
- FL: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- IA: Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), administered by Iowa DIAL
- MO: Kansas City, MO City Planning & Development (plumbing license, city-issued)
- NE: City of Omaha Building and Development Division (plumbing license, city-issued; Nebraska has no statewide plumbing board)
- NV: Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB), Classification C (plumbing)
- OK: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB)
- TX: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
Elsewhere, search your state’s plumbing or contractor licensing board. Some cities issue plumbing licenses themselves.
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Common questions
Cloudy water questions
Why does cloudy tap water clear up after a minute?
USGS explains that water in pressurized pipes holds dissolved air, which comes out as tiny bubbles when the water reaches the lower pressure of your glass. Like any bubbles, they rise and the water clears. Seattle Public Utilities adds that if the glass clears from the bottom first, the cause is air in the lines.
What is the white stuff in my tap water?
It depends on what it looks like. The City of Bremerton says white particles caught in a faucet aerator can come from a failed water heater dip tube. Seattle Public Utilities says gray sediment, especially from the hot tap, may come from a water heater that is overheating, and suggests calling a plumber if it continues.
What if the cloudy water does not clear?
East Valley Water District in California, which publishes the same glass test, asks customers to contact its water quality department if the water does not clear. Seattle Public Utilities also covers foamy water: if it happens at every faucet, call the utility, save some of the water for the inspector, and do not drink or cook with it until it has been checked.
Sources and limits
- U.S. Geological Survey, Why does my drinking water look cloudy sometimes?. Checked 2026-10-05.
- Seattle Public Utilities, Cloudy Water (cloudy, discolored, and sediment water guidance). Checked 2026-10-05.
- East Valley Water District, CA, Cloudy Water. Checked 2026-10-05.
- City of Bremerton, WA, Public Works, Water Pressure. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Secondary Drinking Water Standards: Guidance for Nuisance Chemicals. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) information for consumers. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Find your local Consumer Confidence Report (search tool). Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Certification programs and certified laboratories for drinking water, by state. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Private Drinking Water Wells: Protect Your Home's Water. Checked 2026-10-05.
- CDC, Guidelines for Testing Well Water. Checked 2026-10-05.
This page summarizes guidance published by the agencies and organizations listed above. It is general information, not a diagnosis of your home or your water. Guidance can change, so check the linked source, your water utility, or your local health department before acting on it. PlumbingRepairCost is not affiliated with any agency named here. Spotted an error? Email hello@plumbingrepaircost.com and we will check it against the source.