Cloudy Water Issue

One of the most common issues or concerns we have with water during the cold months of December through February is “cloudy” or “milky” water. This most often happens in the hot water but can also occur in the cold water during particularly cold times. This is caused by by air being trapped in the water. Cold water holds more air than warm water. If you are trying to understand it, I always imagine the molecules of water dancing with each other. In cold water, they are ballroom dancing with a full arm’s length of space between them and enough room between the couples for the ladies’ wide skirts to swish and twirl. In hot water they are dirty dancing, up close and very personal, no space, no room between them. This is why the “cloudy” or “milky” water occurs. As the cold water, full of air, comes into our warm homes or into our warm water heaters the molecules speed up and the air is forced out. Because the water lines are under pressure, it escapes as tiny bubbles like those that soda or Alka-Seltzer produce. These air bubbles will rise to the surface in a glass and the water will clear up from the bottom of the glass to the top. If the water is clear when the bubbles are gone, there is nothing to worry about, if it’s still discolored, please call Customer Care (803-545-3300) and report it.

Submitted by Jill Martinez, Drinking Water Lab Analyst