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In September 2024, Water Corporation said the milky appearance of tap water in Gosnells and Huntingdale, in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs, was most likely caused by tiny air bubbles. Crews had been re-energising a water main in Beckenham, and the utility said the water remained safe to use as normal. That is the utility’s assessment of a past incident. It is not a statement about the water in those suburbs today.
What was reported in September 2024
PerthNow published its report on 10 September 2024. It said more than 15 people in the Gosnells and Huntingdale area had noticed unusual-looking water on the Monday and Tuesday before publication. The report quoted an unnamed Water Corporation spokesperson, who said crews had recently worked to re-energise a water main in Beckenham. According to that spokesperson, the work may have caused air in the pressurised pipe to form tiny bubbles, which gave the water a white or milky look.
The utility also said the water was safe to use normally. Crews were flushing the network, and Water Corporation expected the problem to clear soon, if it had not already. Customers who still saw the issue were asked to call 13 13 75. The full report is available from PerthNow’s article on the Gosnells and Huntingdale milky water.
Why trapped air makes water look milky
Water Corporation’s explanation rests on how pressurised pipes behave. Water under pressure can hold air in solution. When pressure drops or water is disturbed, that air can come out as very fine bubbles. Many small bubbles scatter light and make water look white or cloudy, rather than clear. Water Corporation’s general guidance says this trapped air often appears after repairs or maintenance, which is consistent with the Beckenham main work described in the report.
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For anyone working on water networks, including civil and construction crews, this is a practical reminder. Re-pressurising a section of main can push air into customers’ supply for a short period, even when the water itself is unaffected.
How to check whether cloudy water is air
Water Corporation’s guidance on discoloured water describes a simple test you can do at home:
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- Fill a clear glass or other open container from the cold tap.
- Stand it on a bench and leave it undisturbed.
- Watch the water for a few minutes. If the cloudiness is trapped air, the bubbles should clear from the bottom of the glass upwards.
- If the water stays cloudy and does not clear, call Water Corporation on 13 13 75.
The guidance page is available at Water Corporation’s discoloured water advice.
Milky water and discoloured water are different problems
Milky water and discoloured water can look alarming, but they have different causes and appearances. The table below sets out what the utility’s guidance supports.
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| Feature | White or milky (air bubbles) | Brown or sediment-laden water |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White or milky, cloudy throughout | Brown or visibly sediment-laden |
| Likely cause, per utility guidance | Air trapped in pressurised pipes, often after repairs or maintenance | Sediment in the water; the pipe-related trigger is not stated in the guidance |
| Standing test | Bubbles clear from the bottom of the glass upwards within a few minutes | Not stated in the guidance for this comparison |
| Recommended action | Stand the water in a glass; if it does not clear, call Water Corporation | Not stated in the guidance for this comparison; contact Water Corporation about persistent or unusual discolouration |
What the 2024 reports do and do not establish
- Established by the utility’s account: the appearance was linked to work on a water main in Beckenham, and the proposed cause was tiny air bubbles.
- Attributed to the utility, not independently verified here: the water was safe to use normally, and crews were flushing the network.
- Not established: that the water was contaminated, or that it was unusually alkaline or unsafe.
- Anecdotal only: one resident said they had carried out a pH test. That result is not an official measurement and cannot establish alkalinity or safety.
- A news-reported count, not a formal study: more than 15 residents said they saw the unusual water. No formal survey or dated regulator measurement for this event was found in the sources reviewed.
- Not confirmed: whether the cloudiness fully cleared, and whether any similar incident has happened in these suburbs since September 2024.
Official wording on the 2024 incident
The unnamed Water Corporation spokesperson, quoted by PerthNow on 10 September 2024, said:
“We believe this may have inadvertently caused air inside the pressurised pipe to convert to tiny air bubbles which has given water a white or milky appearance. Whilst unsightly, water remains safe to use as normal.”
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The same spokesperson added: “Crews are in the process of further flushing the network and we expect the issue to be resolved soon (if not already).”
The spokesperson is not named in the report, so the quotes should be attributed to Water Corporation as reported by PerthNow.
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If you see milky water today
The 2024 explanation does not tell you about current conditions in Gosnells, Huntingdale or anywhere else. If your tap water looks milky now, run the standing test above. If it clears from the bottom up, air is the likely cause. If it does not clear, or if the water looks brown or otherwise unusual, contact Water Corporation on 13 13 75 and check its website for any current service notices before assuming the issue is local.
Keep the water in the glass and note the time you poured it. That detail helps if you need to report the issue.
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