Where Does Your Drinking Water Come From?
By Earl Calvert
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water
comes from? Most of us never give this question a thought.
Yet, the sources of our water tell us a lot about its quality.
The Importance of Water Sources
Very early in the development of civilizations, people
recognized the importance of finding reliable water sources.
A clean, constant supply of safe drinking water is essential
for every community. Consequently, the earliest civilizations
developed near sources of clean water.
As time passed, people began to migrate and settle in
areas many miles from a reliable water source. So they
developed delivery systems that drew water from those
distant sources. The Roman aqueducts are an excellent
example of such a delivery system.
Today, people in large cities frequently depend on surface
water sources, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, for
their drinking water. Sometimes these sources are close to
the community. At other times, water suppliers get their
water from sources many miles away.
In either case, when you think about the source of your
drinking water, it's important to consider the entire
watershed in which the source is located. The watershed 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
pumped from a well. These wells tap into aquifers or natural
reservoirs under the earth's surface. These aquifers may be
only a few miles wide, or may span the borders of many
states. As with surface water, remember that activities
many miles away from you may affect the quality of ground
water.
Both public and private water supplies can be drawn from a
variety of sources. Different sources of raw water demand
different treatment methods to render it fit for human
consumption.
Deep Groundwater Sources
The water emerging from some deep groundwater sources
may have fallen as rain many decades or even hundreds of
years ago. Soil and rock layers will naturally filter the
groundwater to a high degree of clarity. Deep groundwater
may emerge as springs. In places where the water does
not emerge as springs, water suppliers will often bore wells
to extract it.
Usually, groundwater has a very high bacteriological quality.
Because the water passed through layers of soil and rock, it
may also be rich in dissolved solids including carbonates
and Sulfates of Calcium and Magnesium.
Depending on the strata through which the water has
flowed, other ions may also be present. These could include
chloride and bicarbonates. Often, water from deep sources
requires special treatment to remove its iron or manganese
content to make it pleasant for drinking, cooking, and
laundry.
Seepage of surface water recharges these deep
groundwater sources. This seepage introduces industrial,
chemical, animal and human contaminants into these
underground aquifers. As these contaminants merge with
natural elements in the water, health threats are
introduced and disinfection is required.
Shallow Groundwater Sources
While deep groundwater lays far below ground level,
shallow groundwater travels in streams within a few
hundred feet of ground level. Access to shallow
groundwater is usually through wells or boreholes.
The bacteriological quality of these shallow sources can
vary depending on the nature of the underground reservoir.
A variety of soluble materials may be present including
potentially toxic metals such as copper or zinc. In some
places, shallow ground water sources contain unacceptably
high levels of Arsenic contamination.
Upland Lakes and Reservoirs
Typically, municipalities place upland reservoirs in the
headwaters of river systems, above any human habitation.
They often surround them by some form of protection zone
to restrict the opportunities for contamination.
Bacterial and pathogen levels are usually low, but some
bacteria, protozoa and algae will be present. Where
uplands are forested or are peaty, humic acids can give the
water a brown color. Many upland sources have low pH
which requires adjustment before the water enters the
supply.
Rivers, Canals and Low-Land Reservoirs
Lowland surface waters primarily come from rain runoff. As
rainwater washes the streets of our cities and filters
through landfills and farmlands, it picks up a significant
bacterial load. It may also contain algae, suspended solids
and a variety of dissolved elements.
Conclusions
All water sources contribute to water contamination. The
source of your water determines the kind of contaminants it
carries.
While water treatment facilities neutralize most of the
contaminants, some escape and end up in your drinking
water. Many of these contaminants are harmless and, at
most, give the water a bad taste or odor. Other pose
potential health threats.
To protect yourself and your family from these potential
threats, we recommend the use of a home water filtration
system to assure that your drinking water is clean.
About the Author
Earl Calvert is a freelance writer living in Birmingham, AL. His writings include Bible study curriculum materials and articles for national business magazines. As an advocate for clean drinking water, Earl is concerned about the contamination of our drinking water sources.
©2005 Earl J. Calvert, All Rights Reserved
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