06/11/2025
Cloudy water from your tap is more than just an aesthetic concern; it can also raise questions about whether there is a health risk or an underlying drain pipe issue.
While more often than not, cloudy water is not a cause for concern, there are some accompanying issues, such as an unusual taste, smell, or colour, which can signal a further problem.
In this article, we explain the most common causes of cloudy tapwater and the warning signs of a water quality or drain pipe issue.
We have also compiled a list of the most common signs of a blocked drain in our article ‘How to tell if you have blocked drains’, so you can spot these problems as soon as they occur.
Cloudy tap water, once poured out into a glass, is usually white or cloudy in appearance.
It is usually caused by harmless trapped air in the water, which gives it a ‘cloudy’ appearance.
To test whether its air bubbles causing your water to be cloudy, you can pour yourself a glass of the water, let it stand for two minutes, then monitor to see if the cloudiness clears from the bottom up. If it does then it is likely just air causing the change in appearance and should be safe for you to drink.
Just incase you’re still not sure whether its air bubbles causing your tap water to be cloudy, we have listed below all the common causes of cloudy tap water.
The most common cause of cloudy tap water is harmless air bubbles in your water, which is not usually a cause for concern. There are, however, multiple reasons for cloudy tapwater, with the main reasons being:
At Lanes, we’re big believers in prevention being better than cure, which is why regular drain cleaning and maintenance can help you rule out damaged pipes from this list.
Read our article, ‘How to maintain your drains’ for advice on essential drain maintenance tips.
Tap water in the UK is among the most well-regulated and monitored in the world, and cloudy tap water is not usually a cause for concern.
If you have tested your water and found that the cause of your cloudy water is air bubbles or your water hardness level, then you should be able to enjoy your tap water without worrying whether it is safe to drink.
Cloudy tap water should only be an issue if it is caused by a damaged or leaky pipe or accompanied by a strong odour, unusual taste, or strange colouring, such as red or brown.
Discover more information on the quality of the UK’s drinking water in our article ‘Is tap water safe to drink in the UK’.
If you have noticed that your water has been cloudy for more than 24 hours, you should contact your water supplier to investigate the issue further.
Your water supplier can inform you if you live in a hard water area or if there have been any local main pipe repair works or disruptions.
Unsure of who your water supplier is? Find out in our article ‘How do I find out who supplies my water?’.
If you know that your cloudy water is caused by a plumbing issue, then you should call a local plumber to rectify the issue. For damaged or leaking pipes on your property boundary, a drainage specialist such as Lanes can perform drain pipe relining and repairs.
At Lanes, there are no callout fees, and we only charge for the work we do.
If you think that a damaged or leaking drain pipe is the cause of your cloudy or discoloured water, then we have a reputation for efficiently handling domestic drain pipe repairs.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you repair or clean your drains.