Water problems library

Cloudy water

Milky or hazy water from the tap.

Possible causes

Trapped air — clears from the bottom up in a glass within minutes; harmless.
Sediment or particulates — doesn't clear; settles instead.
On a well: a sudden change after rain, flooding or nearby work deserves attention.

The glass test: fill one and watch. Bottom-up clearing = air. Settling = sediment. Sudden change on a well = test.

Do the glass test

It costs nothing and answers the first question.

Settling particles? Filter + ask why

Sediment prefiltration helps, but a sudden appearance has a reason worth finding.

Sudden change on a well? Escalate

Rain, flooding or construction changing your water calls for testing, not equipment.

Cloudiness from air is cosmetic. Cloudiness from sediment is a clue — and sudden changes matter more than constant ones.