Discover How Water Works!

Opflow's popular How Water Works series illustrates the processes, equipment, and technology of a water supply and wastewater treatment system. Click on the links below to view the illustrations in the series, as well as an interactive CD, a training workbook, and posters that have been created of select illustrations.

Visit OpflowOnline for the most current image in the series. To request permission to reuse How Water Works illustrations, see AWWA's Copyright Policy.

System Overview

A Typical Water System: From Source to Tap and Back

Administrative Processes Set to Satisfy Customer Demands

Physical Improvements Tighten Utility Security

Water Sources

Surface Water Sources: Multiple Inlet Ports Offer Water Quality Options

Groundwater Sources: Common Terms Associates with Wells

Highlighting Surface Water Contamination Sources

Potential Sources of Groundwater Contamination Revealed

Water Reuse Augments Sustainable Resources

Treatment

Conventional Water Treatment Processes: Traditional Methods Stand the Test of Time

Conventional Water Treatment Processes Part 1: Coagulation, Flocculation, and Sedimentation

Conventional Water Treatment Processes Part 2: Filtration and Disinfection

Wastewater Treatment Protects the Environment

Membranes: A Competitive Alternative to Conventional Treatment

Direct Filtration Offers an Inexpensive Solution to Conventional Treatment

Lime Softening Removes Hardness-Causing Minerals

Streamline Water Treatment Processes to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

UV Complements Traditional Disinfection Techniques

Ozone Optimizes Disinfection, Improves Aesthetic Quality of Treated Water

Distribution

Water Storage Structures Meet Diverse Needs

Distribution Systems Deliver Drinking Water and Fire Protection

An Inside Look at Residential Water Use

Water Utility Valves Perform Diverse Functions

Pumps Support Widespread Applications in Water Systems

Telemetry Systems Streamline Instrumentation and Control

Fire Flow Requirements Protect Service Areas

Take Effective Steps to Emergency Repairs

INTERACTIVE CD/WORKBOOK

Take a virtual tour of a city water system with How Water Works: An Interactive Tour, a CD-based animation of select How Water Works illustrations. Rolling your mouse over numbered areas of an illustration displays brief descriptions of the various parts of the system. Clicking on a number displays a close-up, cutaway illustration and detailed explanation of the technology being used. The CD is great for informing consumers, and is an excellent training tool for new water or wastewater utility employees, students, and public officials. You can also load the CD on your utility's Web site, so it is accessible by employees and consumers, too. The How Water Works Workbook is an ideal training companion to the CD.

POSTERS

Posters of select How Water Works images can be purchased through the AWWA Bookstore:

How Water Works: A Typical Water System
This poster illustrates a typical city water system: water source, transmission lines, water treatment plant, water storage tanks and distribution mains, water service lines to customers, wastewater collection, sewage treatment, reuse, and, finally, return to a river.

How Water Works: Conventional Water Treatment
This poster illustrates conventional water treatment processes: coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, and finished water storage.

How Water Works: Residential Water Use
This poster illustrates a typical home plumbing system, from where water enters the home through the service line to where the used water exits the home into the sewer line.