Water is around us every day, but many people don’t realize how massive our complex network of water systems have to be in order to fulfill humanity’s demands.
For many in the U.S., if you want a glass of water, you just grab a cup, go to the sink, and flip on the faucet. Water comes rushing out, you take your first sip (probably think about how you could really use a Mio right about now) and then you go on with your day. Easy.
Well, it’s not that easy. In fact, the process which happens from the water pooling somewhere, being delivered to your pipes, your turning the faucet on, and wishing you had some Mio to flavor it up is so complex that we should still all marvel at how we even have indoor plumbing at all.
Before we dive into this complex machine, however, let’s first set up a series of definitions so we can have a clear basis of understanding.
Our Water Systems Require Six Key Stages To Effectively Operate Today
Source water
Water has to start somewhere, and for us, it begins in the lakes, rivers, underground aquifers, ponds and reservoirs around us. Ultimately, all of our drinking water can eventually be traced back to these bodies of water in some way or another. There are many ways these waters are fed, but the main sources of replenishment are rain and melting snow. If we have lots of rain and snow, we have plenty of water. If there is a drought, that is why you see waterbans and water rationing in your local neighborhoods. This is an effort to make sure we don’t demand more than what our water sources can supply.
Water treatment
Can you walk right up to a river and drink from it? Sure. Though, we wouldn’t recommend it as there are potentially lots of different organisms and bacteria in that water which make it unsafe for our consumption. For our water to be perfectly safe for drinking, we have to make sure that we filter and purify water so that it is safe for our use.
Water distribution systems
These are the pipes and pumps that deliver clean water to our taps. In Los Angeles, CA alone, there are over a quarter of a million pipes (which equal out to nearly 6800 miles long) that deliver their water on a daily basis.
Wastewater collection systems
We all have to go to the bathroom, right? In today’s day and age, we have the beauty of indoor plumbing – but that wastewater has to go from our toilets to somewhere and these are the pipes and pumps which take away that used water from our toilets, drains, bathtubs, and laundry. You are probably very familiar with this system because these are also known as sewers. In Los Angeles County the Sanitary Sewer Network covers approximately 824 square miles and encompasses 78 cities and unincorporated territory within the County. There are approximately 9,500 miles of tributary sewers that are owned and operated by the cities and County.
Wastewater treatment
This is a much bigger deal than you would think. Yes, our wastewater is treated and put back into the environment — which means it goes into our drinking water sources! Fret not though, there is a strict filtration process which the wastewater must undergo BEFORE it hits our drinking water supply. In fact, there are at least 5 different kinds of wastewater treatment which must be done – and then that water is literally crystal clear. The process to remove contaminants from our used water so that it can be safely returned to the environment is also called sewage treatment.
Stormwater systems
It rains and it snows all over this country – but the water that is dumped on the land doesn’t just disappear. Well, some of it leeches into the ground or evaporates, but most of it has to be physically moved away from our homes and/or streets so we can keep carrying on with our day-to-day lives. We do this by using the pipes, ditches and natural systems to channel that rainwater and snowmelt away back to the natural environment. You should be very familiar with these systems as well because there are storm drains everywhere!
The ground in urban areas is mostly covered by roads, parking lots, or buildings, so the stormwater systems prevent flooding of our homes and businesses by collecting the water in storm drains and piping it to lakes, rivers and the ocean.
A complication exists for this water system because stormwater is not treated before it is discharged to the environment. As a result, contaminants and debris often get into the system, and impact humans, fish and other wildlife that use the lakes, rivers and ocean areas where stormwater flows.
This goes back to why you shouldn’t just drink water out of a local river, lake or pond. More than likely you would be drinking stormwater!
Where Does Our Drinking Water Come From?
Many people get their water from municipal water systems, whereas others get their water from private wells, and water delivered by tanker trucks into holding tanks.
90% of the water that feeds into municipal water systems comes from surface water sources like rivers and lakes. The remainder of the water of the water usually comes from groundwater sources like underground aquifers.
How Does Water Get From The Water Source To The Taps In Our Kitchen?
As we noted before, our water is extracted from the water source and then it is vigorously treated before it is pumped to our taps. Most systems will include multiple filtration stages to remove particles, debris and algae – as well as disinfection to remove various bacteria and viruses and purify the water. To that end, most disinfection methods include chlorination and treatment with UV light.
Once treatment has been completed, water is distributed to homes and businesses in very large pipes called water mains. These mains are usually buried under roads and sidewalks and the maintenance of these pipes usually fall within the jurisdiction of the municipality.
From the main pipes come water lines – which are smaller pipes that transport the water from water mains to individual homes, apartments and businesses. Water lines are usually the responsibility of the property owner, and need to be maintained by the owner.
How Do We Know Our Water Is Safe And Where Does It Go?
Most people rely on sewer systems to take water away from their homes and businesses, while other collect water in private septic systems, and very few people haul their water away.
Water from the sewer pipes is treated because it is affected by the types of contaminants in the sewage. As such, the wastewater is treated to the strict laws established in local and federal regulations.
The most common steps in sewage treatment for our drinking watert:
- Preliminary treatment removes grit, like sand and gravel, egg shells, coffee grounds etc. from raw sewage.
- Primary treatment starts with temporary holding of sewage to allow the solids to sink to the bottom, and oil and grease to float to the top. The settled and floating material is removed, and the remaining liquid is moved to the next stage of treatment or discharged to the environment.
- Secondary treatment removes dissolved and suspended biological matter and the remaining liquid is moved to the next stage of treatment or discharged to the environment.
Tertiary treatment is when water is treated with chemicals and filtered prior to being released to the environment.
Be Safe - Think Ahead
At PPS, we value preparation, trust, and integrity with our clients. We provide systems and solutions, not price only products. Though we do not claim to have every solution for every disaster, we encourage clients to be open about their solutions and include all possible vendors. When in a disaster situation, a city, county, state, or government needs to consider all options.
As such, we guide our clients to prepare in advance for the worst, be it earthquake, flood, fires, or just an aging infrastructure utilizing lay flat hose. See our website for our layflat hose solutions.