Learn About Water

Where Does Water Come From?

Fresh water is the result of the Earth’s water or hydrologic cycle. Basically, the sun’s heat causes surface water to evaporate. It rises in the atmosphere, then cools and condenses to form clouds. When enough water vapor condenses, it falls back to the surface again as rain, sleet, or snow. The process repeats itself in a never-ending cycle.

The water we consume and use every day comes from two main sources: groundwater and surface water.

Groundwater

When rain water or melting snow seeps into the ground, it collects in underground pockets called ‘aquifers’. Water levels depend on such factors as rainfall, drought, or the rate at which water is being used. Groundwater usually comes from aquifers through a drilled well or natural spring.

beautiful stream with running water and two green shores

Surface Water

Surface water flows through or collects in streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and oceans. Surface water can be beautiful, even pristine looking, but most of it isn’t directly fit for drinking. Fully 97% is found in the oceans as saltwater, and most of the earth’s fresh water is locked up in ice or glaciers.

How Does It Get To Us?

Typically, pipes bring the water supply from a facility that treats the water to your home or business. A well-built and maintained distribution system of pipes helps ensure its quality.

Municipal Water

Raw and untreated water is obtained from an underground aquifer (usually through wells) or a surface water source, then flows to a treatment facility, where it is pre-treated to remove debris such as leaves and silt. Then, a sequence of treatment processes – including filtration and disinfection with chemicals and physical processes – eliminates disease-causing microorganisms. The water then flows out into the community through a network of pipes and pumps. Approximately 85% of the U.S. population receives its water from community water systems, which are required to meet standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Well Water

A well is a strategically-placed access point drilled into an aquifer, combined with a pump to withdraw the water and a basic filtering and screening system. Approximately 15% of the U.S. population relies on individually-owned sources of drinking water such as wells, cisterns, and springs. The majority of household wells are found in rural areas. Water quality from household wells is the responsibility of the homeowner.

Your Water’s Health & Safety

The United States enjoys one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world. However, while tap water that meets federal and state standards is generally safe to drink, drinking water that is not properly treated or disinfected, or that travels through an improperly maintained distribution system, may pose a health risk. Hard water, which contains dissolved compounds of calcium and magnesium or other metallic elements, leaves scale deposits that can clog faucets or shower heads and wear out appliances faster. And many times consumers choose to treat their water to alleviate perceptible concerns like its taste or odor.

WQRF Contaminant Map

The WQRF Contaminant Map shows you what contaminants might be prevalent in your local water supply, which will help direct testing of your home’s water.

Visit WQRF.org

Better Water Today Consumer Site

For consumer-friendly information on water, contaminants, and how to ensure the best home water quality.

Visit BetterWaterToday

Water Treatment for Dummies

This simple, jargon-free booklet answers common questions about water testing and treatment options that can improve water quality in your home or business.

Download E-Book

Water Quality Importance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act requires municipalities to test water supplies once, twice, or several times per year, depending on the potential contaminants and the size of the population served. Municipalities don’t continuously monitor the water pipes that transport water to homes, so water that leaves the treatment facility can become contaminated by the time it shows up at your tap. Water suppliers are required by law to promptly inform their customers if the water has become contaminated by something that can cause immediate illness. Water suppliers have 24 hours to inform their customers of violations of EPA drinking water standards “that have the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure.”

How to Find Out More

There are several key resources consumers can access to better understand the quality of their water. If your home is served by a community water system, you are entitled to view a copy of your municipality’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). A CCR provides information on the source of the water supplied to your local system and the results of its recent water quality tests. It then compares the test results to the EPA’s health-based standard. The reports are due to customers by July 1 of each year. Small systems will mail the report, but if your community water system serves more than 100,000 people, the CCR must be posted on a publicly accessible web site. Click here for guidance from the EPA on locating your system’s CCR.

Learn about Possible Health Effects

Water quality criteria are developed by assessing the relationship between pollutants and their effect on human health and the environment. A human health criterion is the highest concentration of a pollutant in water that is not expected to pose a significant risk to human health. Access the EPA’s national recommended water quality criteria for human health by clicking here.

Consider Individualized Testing

EPA testing is done at the community level and does not necessarily reflect the quality of the water at your home or business. After reading your CCR or checking the WQRF Contaminant Map, you may wish to test for specific contaminants (such as lead) that can vary from house to house, or any other contaminant you’re concerned about. You may also be concerned over certain perceptible issues such as the water’s taste, odor or appearance. If this is the case, you may consider having additional tests performed through a certified water-testing laboratory. View the EPA’s home drinking water testing fact sheet . Use this link to search for certified laboratories or to reach your state certification officer.

Check for Violations of EPA Regulations

The Safe Drinking Water Information System contains information about public water systems and their violations of EPA’s drinking water regulations. These statutes and accompanying regulations establish maximum contaminant levels, treatment techniques, and monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure that water provided to customers is safe for human consumption.