Water should arrive at your tap clear and bright, but occasionally the water can sometimes appear discoloured or cloudy.

Cloudy or milky Water.

Air can sometimes enter the supply system after a burst or mains repair. Under mains pressure the air dissolves in the water, but when you turn on your tap and release this pressure the air comes out of solution, forming millions of tiny air bubbles, this is similar to what happens when you open a bottle of lemonade. Normally the air will dissipate with time but if it persists please contact us and we will investigate further.

These tiny air bubbles normally cause a white or cloudy appearance to the water. Letting the water stand in a clean glass and watching how it clears is an easy way to check this. If air is present the water will clear from the bottom of the glass upwards.

Occasionally the domestic plumbing arrangement can give rise to cloudy water. Cold water is able to hold more air than warm water. As water is warmed the dissolved air appears as tiny bubbles. This can occur, particularly during the winter months if hot water pipes are laid in close proximity to the cold water pipes.

Brown, orange or yellow discolouration.

A large proportion of the mains in the Bristol Water area are made of cast iron and some are over a hundred years old. These mains contain a small amount of iron sediment that can be disturbed by changes in the speed or direction of flow following a burst main, routine maintenance or use of hydrants by the fire brigade. When iron sediment is disturbed it can give a brown, orange or yellow colour to the water. Disturbances of this nature are normally short lived. Allowing the mains network to settle for a short period and then running your coldwater tap in the kitchen for 30 minutes should clear your supply. However, if your water supply does not clear please contact us for further assistance.

This type of discolouration can also be due to the condition of private service pipes or plumbing systems, particularly in older systems that have galvanised or iron pipes. If your neighbours do not have discoloured water, the problem is most likely associated with your own pipework.

Blue-green or bluish discolouration.

A bluish or blue-green colouration of the water is normally associated with increased levels of copper. Mains water contains very low levels of copper but these levels can increase when the water comes into contact with copper pipework in your property. This most commonly occurs in new properties or in properties that have had new pipes installed recently, particularly where water has been standing in pipes. This discolouration is usually short lived and will disappear with time as the new pipes age. Running the taps for a short period before using the water will remove any water standing in the pipes. Using a water softener in the property can produce water that is more aggressive on the pipe and can increase the risk of copper dissolving into the water. If this blue discolouration does persist or you have any concerns relating to increased levels of copper please contact us for further assistance.