Cloudy White Water 'Nothing To Be Concerned About': Northborough

NORTHBOROUGH, MA — If you've filled a glass with water from the faucet lately, you might have noticed it looks cloudy at first. Northborough's officials said it's nothing to be concerned about and just a result in the change in temperatures, not water purity.

"The air bubbles dissipate and the water will become clear in a few minutes when open to the atmosphere," Northborough's town clerk wrote on Facebook.

Cloudy water, also known as white water, is caused by air bubbles in the water. Officials reassured residents and said it is completely harmless and safe to drink and use as normal.

Air bubbles in drinking water occur when the weather abruptly turns cold. Cold water holds more dissolved air than warm water. As the cold water in our tanks move into the underground pipes it becomes pressurized which keeps the air dissolved. Once the water comes out of your tap, the water is no longer under pressure and the air comes out of solution as bubbles. The best thing to do is let it sit in an open container until the bubbles naturally dissipate. When the tank water temperatures stabilize over the next few days, the water will return to normal appearance.