Public Water Supply System can be defined as a system of conveying water for human consumption through pipes and other means to at least 15 service connections or to 25 or more people for more than 60 days in a year (The United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d). The system helps in providing water for the people in different neighborhoods. A public water supply system has four basic components namely Source of Water supply, water treatment, conveyance and water storage and distribution system. This essay will discuss the four components of a public water supply system and how it differs from a private water supply system.
Sources of Water Supply
Water supply systems have primary underground or surface water sources where water is obtained before channeling it to people's homes. A system can have a single or multiple sources from where water is gotten. Some of the ground water sources include springs and wells. Surface water sources include the lakes, rivers, and oceans. The source has to be permanent and must have adequate water to supply the estimated place all year round (Drinking Water Academy, 2003).
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Water Processing or Treatment Facilities
Once obtained, water is treated in a central place to remove sediments, contaminants, and pathogens. It is a vital process as it eliminates risks to human health when used later. Treatment plans have to be effectively functional to avoid cases of supplying dirty water or delays in the process such that the people go for some days without getting any (Sturzenbecker, 2012; Drinking Water Academy, 2003).
Water Conveyance
Water can be supplied to homesteads, towns, and firefighting departments companies through tunnels and pipes. Piping is the major method used for water supply. The water usually flows by gravity from the treatment plants or reservoirs to the points of use. The public water supply differs from the private supply because the private supply takes the water to individual consumption places such as industries, schools, among others (Sturzenbecker, 2012).
Water Storage and Distribution Systems
According to Sturzenbecker (2012), once water is supplied to an area or a firm, it is supposed to flow into storage reservoirs that are usually elevated. The elevation allows for water flow once taps are opened. Storage reservoirs are supposed to be maintained such that the water does not deteriorate from there. Pipes are used to distribute the water to the last final consumption points. There are main pipes and feeder pipes. The main pipes are used to pass water from the reservoirs whereas the feeder pipes supply to individual homes or offices.
Challenges to water Supply
Natural and artificial aspects affect water supply in different ways. Drought, increased population and demand, inadequate reservoirs, sources used by other people directly, leakages, contamination and destruction of supply systems are some of the challenges that water supply systems face. There is need to overcome the challenges for a continuous flow and minimal health hazards (Sturzenbecker, 2012).
In conclusion, the public water supply system is a system used to provide people with water. It has four main components namely Source of Water supply, water treatment, conveyance and water storage and distribution system. Each of these steps serves a purpose in the ultimate water provision.
References
Drinking Water Academy. (2003). Introduction to the Public Water System Supervision Program. Retrieved May 14, 2016 from https://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/pdf/pwss.pdf
Sturzenbecker, M. J., Adams, B., & Burnside, E. (Eds.). (2012). Fire Detection And Suppression Systems (4th ed.)
United States Environmental Protection Agency . (n.d). Information about Public Water Systems . Retrieved May 14, 2017 from: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/information-about-public-water-systems
