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Water supply system
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Which of the following water sources are used to supply water to cities and municipalities?
In this city, thousands of people are using water at this very moment, making their tea, flushing toilets, brushing teeth, or watering plants. The water reaches taps, toilets or garden sprinklers, through a system of pumps, pipes, water treatment facilities, water storage tanks. This system delivers water all the way from a water source. This is a water supply system. Let’s see how it works!
Most cities and municipalities draw water from a freshwater source. This can be a surface water source, for example a lake, a groundwater source, or a place built to collect rainwater or water from rivers, a water reservoir. It is important that a water source is reliable - there must be enough water there, and the water must refill regularly. The quality of water also needs to be good. If the water is very polluted or contaminated with toxic substances it is unsuitable for home use.
But even water that is free from pollution needs to be treated before it reaches our homes. This makes sure it’s safe to drink or use. Water from the source is transferred through pipes or tunnels to a water treatment facility. Here, water is purified. The water goes through a series of different processes, to remove dirt, chemicals, harmful bacteria, or parasites, as much as possible.
Examples of such processes are filtration, and disinfection. Treated water is carried through underground water pipes, and then pumped into a water storage tank, located for example in a water tower. A water tank is positioned at the top of a water tower, higher up than most buildings around it. This allows pressure to build in the pipes which carry water from the water tower to its users. When someone turns on a tap, water flows down from the tower to the tap.
The water doesn’t need to be pumped. This is very important for example in case of fire. Thanks to water towers, firefighters have easy access to water, even if there is no electricity to pump the water from anywhere else. The water tower also makes sure that everyone has the right water pressure in their tap or showerhead. From a water tower or a tank, water travels through pipes called water mains.
Water mains distribute water across an area to supply private houses, offices, factories, public bathrooms and fire hydrants. These pipes run underground. This protects the pipes from damage and water from contamination. Water mains often follow the layout of streets, so that it is easier to access and service the pipes when needed. Inside buildings, water travels through narrower pipes called service lines to reach for instance taps, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines.
After water is used, it goes down the drain and into another system - the sewage system. There the water is treated, before it is returned to nature. How a water supply system operates might differ, depending on location, size of the town or city, or when the system was first built. But the point of any water supply system is to collect, transport, treat, store, and distribute water to meet everyone’s needs. It makes it easy and convenient to wash your hands, or make a cup of tea whenever you like!