Three Valleys Water - At Home - Water Quality

Water quality: colour and appearance

Your water will normally look clear and bright with no visible particles but on rare occasions its appearance could be different, as explained below.

1.	White or cloudy water can occur due to something as simple as air in your water. To confirm this you can fill a glass with water and the air will clear from the bottom upwards.

	Air may be present in our mains following a burst and repair, or it may be due to a faulty tap. Please do not be alarmed, it generally clears within one or two hours. If it persists for longer please click here to contact us.

2.	White particles occur in boiled water because most of our water is naturally hard. (see next section). These particles are likely to be visible as scale build-up on kettle elements or in hot drinks especially if you have used a new or recently de-scaled kettle.

Yellow, orange or brown water is usually caused by the disturbance of iron deposits. This can happen when there is a change in the direction or speed of flow of the water. Changes in flow can occur for a number of reasons. Please check:

a.	The mains fed cold water tap. Check this by taking water from the kitchen cold water tap. The causes for this could be a burst on a water mains network or a sudden demand for water in another area e.g. for fire fighting. We are currently undertaking a programme to reline or replace iron mains that may have potential for causing discoloration.
b.	The internal storage tank. Check this by taking water from a bathroom tap. It may be that recent plumbing or water use has mixed up particles in your water system. Deterioriation of your internal storage tank can also cause discolouration.

4.	Blue/blue-green stains, particularly under a dripping tap, may be caused by new or deteriorating copper pipes within your own internal plumbing. If you have a water softener on your non-drinking water system this can also contribute to staining under a dripping tap.

5.	Black discoloration in our water is extremely rare because it arises as a result of naturally occurring manganese. It can occur when there is a change in flow, as in 'yellow, orange or brown' above.

Water Quality Online Helpdesk:

	Taste and smell
	Colour and appearance
	Hard and soft water
	Fluoride
	Lead
	Water quality in your area

Download our brief guide to water quality (PDF 43KB). Please note that the installation of treatment referred to in the lead section of this guide has now been completed.

Download our Annual Report on the quality of our drinking water (PDF 578KB)

If you have any further enquiries, please complete our enquiry form and select the option Water Quality.