City Water

Drinking water is such an essential need for survival for each of us that we give little thought to where it comes from and how it gets to our homes. From the ancient aqueducts to the modern municipal water systems of our cities, the same problems and concerns remain: How can we supply safe and healthy drinking water to a large concentration of people?

How City Water is Processed

Simply put, city water is treated in three different steps before it arrives in our homes. Depending on where you live, there may be additional steps and measures unique to your location, but the process is generally the same everywhere.

  1. Clarification removes dirt, organic matter, and other particulates from the water by adding chemicals that induce a charge which causes the particles to settle or float for easier removal.

  2. Filtration occurs as the water passes through graduated layers of sand, activated carbon, and other media to trap and remove smaller and smaller particulates that clarification did not catch.

  3. Disinfection is usually accomplished by the addition of chlorine to the water to control bacteria, viruses, algae, and parasites.

How City Water gets to your Faucet

Once the water has been treated, it enters a network of pipes which branch out underground like the arteries in our bodies. Pressure is induced to keep the water moving by:

City Water Problems

City water systems face a variety of infrastructure problems that disrupt flow, add funky taste and odor, interrupt supply, and introduce contaminants. Here are some of these problems:

Summary

Whether you live in a smaller town of only a few hundred people or a city of millions, these problems persist and can create health problems for you and your family. The best way to remove the contaminants that are in your city drinking water is by providing your own water filtering methods.

These water filtering solutions range from simple water pitcher filters to extensive whole house water filters that feature several different types of filtering media. In fact, we spend over $2 billion a year on water filtering equipment as we become more aware of the contaminants in our water, and taking charge of our own drinking water filtration may be the best solution of all.