Cloudy Water?  It's the Weather.

Cold Water Temperatures and Warm Ambient Temperatures Can Cause Cloudy Appearance in Water.

It’s a fact that all water has a certain amount of air dissolved in it, albeit invisible to the naked eye- most of the time.  But, there are times when the temperature of the water in the underground pipes is much lower than the comfortable temperature inside our homes and workplaces.  At times like these, the dissolved air in the water shows up when you turn on the tap.  What the eye sees as cloudy, even milky, water is actually undissolved air escaping in the form of bubbles. 

With the recent change in outdoor temperature, and the beginning of snowmelt runoff season in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, conditions are perfect for this occurrence and some LADWP customers, particularly those in parts of the San Fernando Valley, may notice this phenomenon in their water.  The Department assures customers that this is normal and poses absolutely no health risk. 

What makes this happen?
The pristine snowmelt from the Eastern Sierras comes to the city via the Los Angeles Aqueduct.  This water enters our system at the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant in Sylmar, where it receives state-of-the-art treatment to make it ready for drinking.  The water is then sent out through our elaborate system of distribution pipes to all of our customers.  This icy cold water is far cooler in temperature than our homes and workplaces, particularly on warm, sunny days like we’ve had recently.  As a result, more air is trapped in water in the form of tiny bubbles, resulting in a cloudy appearance.

What can I do?
Chill out, as they say.  Fill your glass, let it rest for a minute or two and you will see the bubbles disappear from the bottom up.  What you’ll be left with is a refreshing serving of LA’s finest water.

More questions? 
Call us.  For additional information, customers may contact the LADWP Water Quality Division at (213) 367-3182.  

Water Quality and LADWP
Providing the highest quality drinking water day in and day out is at the very core of our existence at LADWP.  As such, we perform over 300,000 water quality tests each year for compliance, research and operational improvements.  Our customers can be assured the water we provide meets or exceeds all state and federal guidelines for water quality. 

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