Did you ever stop to think about where our water comes from? Whether you’re talking gallons or liters we use billions every year, but where is it before it gets into our homes?
The two most common sources of domestic water are ground water and surface water. Ground water is water that comes from the ground, usually being pumped out through wells and boreholes (which are even deeper wells). Surface water is the water that falls as rain, as well as water from lakes, rivers and streams and reservoirs.
Although most people get their water from a public water supply, there are also many who have wells on their property and supply their own water. After all, if you’re lucky enough to have groundwater on your land, why would you pay water utility bills?
What Happens to Water Before It Reaches Our Homes?
While there are a few places where the geology provides a natural form of water treatment (in high limestone areas, for example), water has to be treated before it’s deemed safe for domestic use. Water companies have to make sure there are no leaves or other debris and to aerate the water to remove bad smells. The water is also treated to remove any harmful bacteria, and then filtered and disinfected. Finally, the pH balance has to be checked so the water won’t damage the pipes it is going through (or pick up any harmful substances from iron pipes).
What Happens After Water Leaves Our Homes?
We use a lot of water every day (US estimates are up to 100 gallons per person), but much of the water we use goes down the drain. What happens to it there?
Options include going into a septic tank (from where the water may go back into the ground), or going back into a sewage treatment plant for treatment and reuse. Don’t worry, this water does not end up back in the tap for you to drink. Instead, some of it goes back into ground water or is used for irrigation of public spaces (parks, golf courses and so on).
How Much Water Do We Use?
Estimates of water use vary widely. In the US, the figure is 80-100 gallons per day. In the UK, it’s about 150 liters per person per day. But there’s another twist. Environmentalists have recently looked at virtual water consumption (that is, water used in the production of food and textile imports). When this is taken into account, the UK daily water consumption figure per person is more than 4600 liters per day. Factors that affect this include the type of food consumed.
Water continues to be a key environmental issue and discussions of countries’ water footprint is only likely to increase.
Sharon Hurley Hall drinks lots of water. She writes for Eden Springs, the first water machines company in the UK to achieve carbon neutral certification.
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Love the article! Short, succinct and packed with just the right information. I always wondered where exactly all that water comes from and where it’s held.
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