Why Your Faucet Water Looks Dirty

You head over to your kitchen sink to pour yourself a nice cold glass of clear water. To your surprise, the water is a slightly brown color, or maybe even just cloudy. Why is that?

Don't worry. Neither scenario is particularly dangerous to your health. However, you do have to give it a little time before you can pour yourself another cup. Here are the details:

Your faucet water is brown or rusty in color: This is likely due to materials which have been stirred up due to changes in your water's delivery system. If a nearby water main breaks or maintenance work is or has recently been performed, water traveling through will pick up some iron causing the color to change or look dirty. Any disturbance to pipes will cause similar issues.

Although there is no health risk, avoid drinking the water while it is like this. In the meantime, continue to run cold water through your faucet until it clears up. If it does not clear up after a half hour or so, call your plumber for assistance.

Your faucet water is cloudy or milky: This does not indicate dirty water at all. Instead, it is the reaction of trapped air bubbles being released when your faucet is opened. This cloudy or milky appearance generally only lasts for a few minutes. If you leave your glass to sit, the air bubbles will eventually rise allowing the water to clear. Specifically in colder months, pipes will fill up with more oxygen.

Again, this water is not harmful. However, if water does not begin to clear after standing, call a plumber.

For any other issues with your faucet or plumbing fixtures, call us at 718-514-7145. We have been New York's reliable plumber for over 50 years. 

photo credit: steve_lodefink via photopin cc