Fill a glass with the shower water and notice that it isn‘t white. It if indeed is however, it is contaminated.
this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.
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This. Also let it sit for a bit. If the white colour goes away then the water just had dissolved oxygen in it that was bubbling out.
This reminds me this was how our water always was in southern California. Straight from the tap it would be foggy and even fizz a bit as the air escaped. You just let it sit a minute or squeeze some lemon, just fine, but out of town guests were appalled. Maybe it's the same now but with those fridge door dispensers you can't tell.
When I was at summer camp as a kid, we always referred to the water as either "milk water" or "carbonated water" because of that effect.
Joining in with everyone else. There were a few places I've lived that the hot water always looked milky, but once it cooled/settled out would become normal again. There's (usually) just too much air mixed into it. If it stays cloudy, you might have too much calcium or other mineral in your water (more if you're rural and using a well.)
Yes its rural and using a well
Time to look into water softeners.
No, you need to test the water hardness to determine if you fix, replace, or install a softener. White water is most likely caused by an air injection system, most commonly used to treat iron in the water. It is perfectly OK if that's the case. To test it, fill a glass with the white water and let it sit for a couple mins, you will see it start to clear up at the bottom first, then go completely clear eventually. If that's what's happening your system is working as it is suppose to and removing the iron by forcing it to oxidize with the air.
A literal shower thought
The solubility of air in water depends on temperature. When water that is saturated with air is heated, the air will bubble out of the water as the solution becomes supersaturated. We've all seen this watching a pot of water heating on the stove. Long before it boils, bubbles of air start forming on the bottom and sides of the pot.
In your shower, hot and cold water start out saturated, but when they mix, the warm water can be supersaturated, causing tiny bubbles that make the water look milky.
This would be a question for ELI5 or NoStupidQuestions
I have no idea what you're talking about at all. Water from my shower, or any shower I remember doesn't and hasn't ever looked white. This must be...a regional or water quality problem. Limestone in the water? Well water? I feel like you're about to learn this isn't a typical experience for many people.
If you have it on at high power it looks white when it's coming out yk
Again, no idea what you mean. High power? My shower just kinda dribbles, I don't have any options to have like higher pressure.
oh wow, that's weird to me
Nah, just air mixed in. Not all that weird honestly, just a turbulent water stream
Estás seguro? That's not sound right
Do you live anywhere near a natural gas extraction (tracking) site?
*Fracking
A shower head often just puts a lot of air in the stream, that's what makes it white!/cloudy
Are you sure that's water? Or are you unknowingly showering with milk? Or semen? Or glue? Or some other white liquid?
It's not. Either it's contanimined or it's just bubbles.
Is it only white in the shower, and normal at the other faucets?