How is drinking water produced

Today, the majority of Americans have disinfected drinking water delivered to their homes and businesses. But do you know how that water makes its way to your faucet so you can make your morning coffee? Keep reading to find out how water travels from source to tap. The majority of our freshwater supply comes from surface water , which comes from rain and snow that runs off into rivers, streams, and lakes.

And people in seven states stretching from Denver to Los Angeles rely on drinking water from the Colorado River. The rest of our fresh water comes from groundwater , which originates from rain and snow that seeps into the soil.

Groundwater is accessed from natural springs or pumped out of the ground by way of a well and is mainly used as drinking and irrigation water. Where the majority of states are mainly supplied with fresh water from surface water sources, Miami , Memphis , and San Antonio draw most of their water from groundwater because these locations have aquifers.

Want to know where your municipal drinking water comes from? After drinking water is treated and meets the U. American water distribution systems span nearly 1 million miles and deliver water to approximately million people.

Distribution systems are mostly underground and include pipes, control valves, pumps, meters, storage tanks, and hydrants. Distribution systems must provide an adequate amount of water, and they must also provide it with sufficient pressure.

Without pressure, water stands still. Water pressure is created by pumping water to the top of a water tower or to a water tank in a high location.

As the Earth's population grows, and many countries are further developed, fresh water is becoming more and more limited. Groundwater comes from rain and snow that seeps into the ground. The water gets stored in open spaces and pores or in layers of sand and gravel known as aquifers. We use water wells or springs to harvest this groundwater. Surface Water also comes from rain and snow. It is the water that fills the rivers, lakes, and streams.

Water is pumped, both from groundwater or surface water sources, into pipes or tanks. The pipes eventually lead to our homes, schools, businesses, and any place where you can turn on the tap and drink water. Most people in the U. If you have a public water supply, a local government agency or private industry delivers water to your home. It comes through a network of underground pipes from a large source of water that you share with your neighbors and community.

Your household will receive a bill from your public water supplier based on how much water you use. How much money is clean drinking water worth to you? Did you know that most people in the U. If water suddenly became more expensive, what might you give up to continue having clean drinking water in your home?

In rural parts of the U. If you have a private well, water enters your home through pipes that come from a nearby underground water source on your property. You don't receive a bill from a water company when you have a private well, but there are some costs to maintain a well and to power the equipment.

Because your drinking water comes from natural sources, it is exposed to pollutants. Anything on the ground or in the air can end up in the water. Some of these things can cause health problems when you drink the water including pollutants like bacteria, lead, and nitrates.

Pacific Institute reports that Australia invested in six new desalination plants between and But the Institute warns that the technology has a long way to go before it can be a truly viable solution for the future. Between high costs, high energy use, and even the possibility of environmental destruction — seawater treatment plants can accidentally take in and kill small marine animals — continued research is needed to make the technology safer and more efficient.

In time, perhaps it could become one of our most important options in avoiding a parched and thirsty future. This article is published in collaboration with Business Insider UK. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum. To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Top COP26 stories: China and the US reach emissions deal; aviation sector seeks sustainable jet fuels; call for global agreement on sustainability reporting standards. I accept. Take action on UpLink. Forum in focus. The one essential element needed to accelerate action on climate change. Read more about this project. Explore context. Explore the latest strategic trends, research and analysis. Reverse osmosis This is one of the most common methods used in desalination plants today, and is the method that will be used at the Carlsbad plant in San Diego County.

Seawater is a very abundant source of water, but its high salt content makes it unsuitable as drinking water. However, pure water can be produced from seawater by distillation.

This is also known as thermal desalination.