Where does our drinking water come from?

Drinking water treatment refers to the treatment of spring water, surface water, or groundwater. Spring water refers to water that emerges out of the earth from underground water sources. Surface water is taken from standing or flowing bodies of water above ground. Dam reservoir water, lake water, and river water are three types of surface water. Groundwater is part of the natural water cycle. It comes predominantly from rainwater seeping through the soil and the subsoil into the aquifer.

From groundwater to drinking water

Most drinking water comes from groundwater. The treatment of drinking water involves a number of different processes. Flocculation is a process of wastewater and drinking
water treatment that reduces existing turbidity. The finest, suspended, or colloidal particles in the water coagulate and then settle or can be filtered. The solid matter and turbidities can be isolated by sedimentation. Filtration describes the process whereby a solid matter/liquid mixture in the water or wastewater can be separated or segregated by filters. Disinfection either removes microorganisms from the water or kills them so that hygienically perfect water is attained.