Turbid water is cloudy, murky, or visibly dirty. Sediment, clay, silt, and organic particles cause turbidity — and they can carry bacteria and interfere with disinfection.
Turbidity refers to the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by suspended particles — sediment, clay, silt, algae, and organic matter. High turbidity is aesthetically unpleasant, but it also has functional consequences: turbid water interferes with UV sterilization and chlorine disinfection, since particles shield bacteria and other pathogens from treatment.
The EPA sets a turbidity limit of 0.3 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) for filtered public water systems. Well water and surface water often exceed this significantly after rainfall events. A multi-stage approach — coarse sediment pre-filter followed by fine media or ultrafiltration — is the most effective solution.