Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Drinking W
ater Supplies
Between earth and earth's atmosphere, the amount of water remains
constant; there is never a drop more, never a drop less. This is a story of
circular infinity, of a planet birthing itself.
—Linda Hogan (1990)
All the water that will ever be is, right now.
—
National Geographic
(october, 1993)
The boundaries between water and wastewater are already beginning
to fade.
—Steve Maxwell (2001)
Introduction
Where do we get our drinking water from? What is the source? Our answer
would most likely turn to one of two possibilities: groundwater or surface
water. This answer seems simple enough, because these two sources are,
indeed, the primary sources of most water supplies. From our earlier discus-
sion of the hydrologic or water cycle, we know that, from whichever source
we obtain our drinking water, the source is constantly being replenished (we
hope) with a supply of freshwater. This water cycle phenomenon was best
summed up by Heraclitus of Ephesus, who said, “You could not step twice
into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.” In this chap-
ter, we discuss one of the drinking water practitioner's primary duties—to
find and secure a source of potable water for human use.
DID YoU KNoW?
If water has a bad taste or odor, unless dying of thirst, people will
not usually drink it. If water is turbid (muddy or cloudy) and has
a color, unless dying of thirst, people will not usually drink it. If
water makes people sick, unless dying of thirst, people will stop
drinking it.
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