Water supply: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:37, 3 October 2012

Although covering some 70% of the Earth's surface, most water is saline. Freshwater is available in almost all populated areas of the earth, although it may be expensive and the supply may not always be sustainable. Sources where water may be obtained include:

ground sources such as groundwater, hyporheic zones and aquifers.
precipitation which includes rain, hail, snow, fog, etc.
surface water such as rivers, streams, glaciers
biological sources such as plants.
the sea through desalination
Water supply network

Notes and references

Interwiki links

Wikipedia:Water supply

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 {{topic header| default.png |Water supply}}
-==Contamination of water distribution systems==
+Although covering some 70% of the Earth's surface, most water is [[saline water|saline]]. Freshwater is available in almost all populated areas of the earth, although it may be expensive and the supply may not always be sustainable. Sources where water may be obtained include:
-In settings with piped water distribution, where demand for water exceeds the supply, the water pressure inside the pipes can become very low and flow becomes very low or even stops. The response of some people who can afford it is to fit a water pump to the outlet, to draw the water out. This further exacerbates the problem of low pressure in the pipes.
-The low pressure means that [[groundwater]] is drawn into the pipes through leaks in the pipes. It is very common for a significant amount of a city's water supply to be lost to leaks (see [[non-revenue water]] on Wikipedia); however when the leaks flow in the other direction, it creates a serious water quality problem. the dropping below the pressure of the groundwater.<ref>[[User:Chriswaterguy|Chriswaterguy]] has added this information based on his research in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, in 1996. See also:
+* [[Soil|ground]] sources such as [[groundwater]], [[hyporheic zone]]s and [[aquifer]]s.
-*[http://www.manilawater.com/cs_faq.cfm#wq-2 What causes water contamination?] - from the Manila Water Company's FAQ.
+* [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] which includes rain, hail, snow, fog, etc.
-*[http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/of-low-water-pressure-sucking-taps-and-herbicide-in-barbados/ Of Low Water Pressure, Sucking Taps and Herbicide In Barbados] - describes a scenario where low pressure could lead to serious toxins accidentally drawn into the water supply.
+* [[surface water]] such as rivers, streams, [[glacier]]s
-</ref>
+* [[biology|biological sources]] such as plants.
+* the [[sea]] through [[desalination]]
+*[[Water supply network]]
-It is claimed that [[HDPE]]{{w|HDPE}} pipe greatly reduces water loss and contamination.<ref>[http://www.oxfordplasticsinc.com/municipal.htm Hdpe Potable Water Pipe] Oxford Plastics Inc (commercial site).</ref>
+==See also==
+* [[Sewage system|Sewage collection]]: most systems (in the developed world) use a combined sewage/potable water system
 ==Notes and references==

Beyond dams	General Alternatives to hydroelectric energy BD recycled (grey) water Desalination plants In-river flood management Irrigation methods Rainwater management Reducing runoff Sand dams Separating the people and the threat Water conservation strategies Water diversion
Clean water	General Raintree-Foundation
Conservation	General Equal and Proportionate Distribution of Water in Irrigation Systems Simple ways to save water and energy Tools Composting toilets New Dawn composting toilet Sub-Irrigated Planter Washing and drying clothes Water conservation strategies WaterPod Filter Commander 9000
Developing countries	General Cholera Cultural preferences in sanitation Decreasing turbidity to optimize solar water disinfection Emergency water quality field testing Raintree-Foundation Water source selection Water supplies and sanitation Water supply Water supply and purification for emergencies Tools Bathroom Toilet Unit Design of a low-cost household water treatment system Mid Scale Community Water Treatment Facility Slow sand filter Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine WaterPod Filter Commander 9000
Distribution	General Irrigation Clay pot irrigation Drip Irrigation Helps Farmers Save Money Drip Irrigation Turns Gravel into Green Drip line placement Equal and Proportionate Distribution of Water in Irrigation Systems IRRIMICR Irrigation methods Micro-irrigation Permaculture Demonstration Center in San Andres Huayapam Pumping Comparison of pumps Village-level operation and maintenance Tools Irrigation CCAT Gravity fed drip irrigation Sub-Irrigated Planter Tanks and Cisterns Pumping Bucketpump construction manual Depth-adjustable Rope Pump Handpumps Hydraulic ram pumps Optimization and CFD analysis of wind-powered water pump system Piston Water Pump Pulser pump Rope pump Rope pump knots Treadle pump design optimization Windpumps
Groundwater	General Arsenic in groundwater Groundwater recharge Permaculture Demonstration Center in San Andres Huayapam Tools CCAT trench swales Ecological dry toilets at Pedregal Micro filter dams at Pedregal Permeable pavements Sand dams Swales Terraces and Ditches at Pedregal
Hydroelectricity	General Alternatives to hydroelectric energy Chiora, Georgia mini hydro powerplant Comparison of bladed rotors for HECS HSU Chiapas micro hydro feasibility study How to Measure Flow How to measure stream flow rate Impulse turbine Microhydro Microhydro power Reaction turbine Tools Picohydro generator WaterPod Pico in a Bucket
Mosquito control	General Appropriate use of DDT GEM mosquito control FAQ Recycling and dengue fever in Sukunan, Indonesia Tools Tire shingles
Oral rehydration	General Starch-based oral rehydration solutions Tools Oral rehydration solution recipes Oral rehydration therapy spoon