Change in the water?

[Jem082]

I was wondering if anyone else had noticed a change in the water hardness/texture not quite sure how to explain it. Wonder if it’s just effecting my house or others around the roads just off north cross road/archdale or Nutfield? 

[ecde]

I’m near Forest Hill Rd and Colyton Rd, and have recently noticed that my outdoor water seems different than usual. It’s frothy and smells like Windex. I have to run it for a couple of mins for it to return to normal. 

[Sue]

51 minutes ago, ecde said:

I’m near Forest Hill Rd and Colyton Rd, and have recently noticed that my outdoor water seems different than usual. It’s frothy and smells like Windex. I have to run it for a couple of mins for it to return to normal. 

That sounds a bit worrying.

Have you tried googling or asking Thames Water?

[ianr]

ecde, what do you mean by outdoor water?   An outside tap?  If so, where's it being fed from?  Presumably from somewhere within the building; maybe somewhere you don't have control of or access to?   Is it meant to be for drinking?

Edited August 4, 2025 by ianr

[ecde]

Thanks @Sue and @ianr for replying. It’s a hose attached to a tap on the exterior wall in the garden. I’ve done a bit of research on Google and the most common explanation I’m seeing is that it’s chemicals leaching from the hose into the water trapped inside. But the reason why I’m still questioning is because 1) the smell is literally exactly like window cleaner and that’s not what the hose plastic smells like, 2) the hose isn’t in the sun, 3) I use the hose every day so the water is never trapped in the hose for long, and 4) I haven’t noticed it until recently. That said, it does seem like a reasonable explanation. I will try to check what the water is like direct from the faucet today. 

Edited August 6, 2025 by ecde