Why is my tap water cloudy?

Cloudy water is often caused by tiny air bubbles. Fill a clear glass and let it sit; if the water clears from the bottom upward within a few minutes, trapped air is the likely cause.

If the cloudiness remains, settles as particles, or appears with an unusual taste, odor, or color, sediment or another water-quality issue may be involved. Persistent cloudy water should be tested rather than diagnosed by appearance alone.