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Where does drinking water come from?
A clean, constant supply of drinking water is essential to every community. People in large cities frequently
drink water that comes from surface water sources, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Sometimes these
sources are close to the community. Other times, drinking water suppliers get their water from sources many miles away. In
either case, when you think about where your drinking water comes from, it's important to consider not just the part of the
river or lake that you can see, but the entire watershed. Thewatershed is the land area over which water flows into the river,
lake, or reservoir.
In rural areas, people are more likely to drink ground water that was pumped from a well. These
wells tap into aquifers--the natural reservoirs under the earth's surface--that may be only a few miles wide, or may
span the borders of many states. As with surface water, it is mportant to remember that activities many miles away from you
may affect the quality of ground water.
Your annual drinking water quality report will tell you
where your water supplier gets your water.
For more information
Return to Drinking Water & Health: what you need to know
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