From time to time, the Utilities Department receives calls from customers experiencing "cloudy" or "milky" water.

This phenomenon normally occurs during the winter months and is not related to the quality or safety of the tap water.

Here's our explanation of what you may experience.

Broken Arrow uses surface (river) water for our drinking water source. For this reason, the temperature of the water entering the purification process varies by season.

Depending on the temperature, water absorbs oxygen, or air, from the atmosphere; the lower the temperature, the more oxygen will dissolve in the water. If water temperature does not change, the air remains dissolved in the water. But if the temperature rises, even a few degrees, the water begins to lose its ability to retain the dissolved air.

Water travels from our treatment plant to your residence or business through underground mains and as it does so, it picks up warmth from the surrounding soil. When it enters your home or business, the building's plumbing pipes warm it even more before you use it.

Due to the increase in temperature, the water wants to release the dissolved air, but since it is under pressure in your plumbing pipes, the air remains in solution until you open your faucet. Much like opening a carbonated beverage bottle, when you release the water to atmospheric pressure by opening the tap, the dissolved air quickly comes out of solution in the form of millions of tiny bubbles, making the water appear cloudy or milky. As you watch the water in a glass, notice how the cloudiness rises to the surface and the water clears.

Cloudy water is a physical response to a change in the temperature and pressure of the water and is not an indication of water quality problems or contamination. It is perfectly safe for all intended uses, including drinking. Occurrence is more frequent in the morning when the water has been in your pipes overnight. We recommend running the tap for several seconds to bring in colder, more refreshing water.

We like to track all our water quality concern calls so please contact us at 918-259-7000 extension 7221 or email Water_Resources@BrokenArrowOk.gov. If it is after 4 p.m., please call the non-emergency police dispatch line at (918) 259-8400.

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