We go to great lengths to make sure your drinking water is supplied to the very highest standards.
However, on rare occasions it may appear yellow/brown in colour or cloudy. The cause is typically an incident such as a burst pipe in your area.
To see if there are any incidents in your area, click on the link below to go to our live map. To restore your normal water supply, we normally advise to run your cold kitchen tap until your water returns to normal. This usually takes 20 minutes but can take up to an hour. Please contact us to be reimbursed for the water used.
Don't worry, the discoloured water will not be harmful to your health or your appliances.
Why is my water cloudy / discoloured?
During its journey to your taps, there are a number of ways in which the appearance of your water may be affected, and occasionally it can become discoloured.
The most common cause of discolouration is a change in the flow or pressure within the pipes – for example as a result of a burst main in your area. The change in pressure can dislodge tiny deposits such as iron or manganese sediments, which may turn the water brown for a short period.
Your water may also appear cloudy, or white, on occasion. If you fill a glass of water and it clears from the bottom upwards then this means your water is just a little more aerated than usual. The bubbles will disappear if the water is left to stand.
In most cases, discoloured water is not harmful and can be cleared by running cold kitchen tap at a steady flow until it clears. If the water does not clear after 20 minutes, please contact us for advice.
Why does my water have a strange taste / smell?
Occasionally, our customers report that their tap water suddenly has an unusual taste or odour. We've set out the most common causes of this below.
Chlorine/TCP/bitter/disinfectant/medicinal
We add small, carefully controlled amounts of chlorine at the treatment works to disinfect the water and a residual is maintained throughout the distribution system to make sure it's safe to drink. Please rest assured that chlorine isn't harmful in the quantities we add and we aim to keep chlorine levels to a minimum.
The chlorine may be more noticeable on some occasions depending on a number of factors, for example: distance from the treatment works, the time it takes the water to travel to your property and the time of day.
If you do have strong TCP tastes or smells from your water, please try the following:
- Check with your neighbour to see if they have same problem
- Make a note of which tap or fitting you were using when the problem started
- If necessary, replace the washer or fittings
- Rinse your kettle out before you use it
- If you suspect your kettle may be causing the taste, try boiling the water in a saucepan and use this water to make your hot drinks
- If you have a washing machine plumbed into the mains in the kitchen, check it has a suitable non-return valve fitted so that water sitting in the hose over long periods is not drawn back
Musty tastes or earthy smells
Musty tastes/smells are often caused by water that has been left stagnant after periods of non-use. You can also experience a musty taste when cold water pipes pass near unlagged hot water pipes or radiators where they can become warm. Running your tap for a couple of minutes will bring fresh cold water through.
If you notice this smell or taste for the first time, try using a mild household disinfectant to wash outside and inside your drinking water tap. But don’t forget to let it run a little before you use it again to rinse out the disinfectant.
Metallic tastes
A metallic or bitter taste can arise from copper, iron or galvanised pipes that have either not been fitted properly, or may have corroded.
If the water has been standing for several hours in the pipe, fill a washing-up bowl with water to draw fresh water through the pipe. Top tip! The water in the bowl can then be used for watering your garden plants so it's not wasted.