How drinking water is sourced and treated
The oldest reliably dated well, dug about 8400 BC on Cyprus, was driven through limestone to reach an aquifer.
- stations
- 4
- things downstream
- 608
The short version
Most municipal water comes from wells tapping underground aquifers, or from rivers and lakes. It is pumped to a treatment plant, where chemicals make fine particles clump together, the clumps settle and are filtered out, and a disinfectant kills germs. Some disinfectant stays in the water to protect it in the pipes.
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Pump from the aquifer
A well is dug, driven or drilled to reach an aquifer, a layer of permeable rock, gravel or sand holding water. A pump lifts the groundwater up the shaft.
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Clump and settle
Coagulants neutralize the electric charge on tiny suspended particles so that they stick into larger flakes. In still tanks gravity pulls the flakes to the bottom.
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Filter through sand
The clearer water passes through filters that catch what the settling missed. Some plants use slow sand filtration, in which biological processes help clean the water.
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Disinfect it
Chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet light kills bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. A residual disinfectant is usually left in the water to keep the pipes clean.
End of the lineWater
Next it goes into soap, shampoo, toothpaste and 186 more.
Worth repeating
- About 70% of the fresh water used by humans goes to agriculture.
- Water covers about 71% of the Earth's surface, but groundwater is only 1.7% of all water.
- The oldest reliably dated well is from about 8400 BC in Cyprus.
Where it goes next
Water feeds 189 lines directly and reaches 608 things in total.
SoapShampooToothpasteDeodorantSunscreenPerfumeMascaraAspirinPenicillinInsulinmRNA vaccineAcetaminophenCondomLaundry detergentBleachVitamin C tabletQuicklimeSoda ashSulfuric acidNitric acidAmmoniaHydrogenChlorineCaustic sodaNaphthaEthylenePVCPolyurethaneSiliconePTFESynthetic rubberCarbon blackInkPaintAdhesiveEthanolBalloonNitrile gloveLithium carbonateAA batteryPencilAluminaCopperGoldChromiumNonstick panContact lensSunglassesConcreteBrickRoof tileCoffee mugDinner plateToiletDrywallBlackboard chalkFlourSugarCorn syrupCorn starchVegetable oilPalm oilBaker's yeastBaking sodaGelatinVanilla extractVinegarMargarineMayonnaiseKetchupMustardSoy sauceTofuBreadPastaInstant noodlesTortillaCroissantDonutPretzelCorn flakesPotato chipsFrozen french friesHot dogBaconCanned tunaChicken nuggetsGummy bearsMarshmallowJelly beansCandy caneRoasted coffeeInstant coffeeDecaf coffeeOrange juiceColaSparkling waterBeerWhiskeyVodkaGinRumTequilaSakeTennis ballOat milkAlmond milkSoy milkCoconut milkJarred salsaPicklesFrozen pizzaBagelBaguetteSourdough breadCrackersImitation crabHamCanned meatFish sticksCanned soupMethanolCarbon dioxideHydrochloric acidPotassium hydroxideSemolinaEgg cartonModeling compoundSnow globeCandy-coated chocolateLicoriceLollipopPopping candyGelatin dessertCake mixSodaRoot beerEnergy drinkKombuchaTonic waterBottled waterBourbonScotch whiskyCognacMeadLight beerNon-alcoholic beerIncenseDish soapKitchen spongeHair dyeFoundation makeupWet wipesMouthwashCough syrupGelatin capsuleCeramic floor tileStoneware potteryCar batteryHydrogen peroxideMalted barleyFormaldehydeVanadiumCellulose acetateEthylene glycolCarbon monoxidePolyvinylpyrrolidoneWood pulpPaperCardboardToilet paperFacial tissueNewspaperBanknoteCotton fabricDenimWool yarnLinenSilkRayonLeatherJeansT-shirtSocksWool sweaterBath towelCarpetButtonSewing thread
Further down the line
Air freshenerHairsprayWindow glassGlass bottleSmartphone cover glassGlass marbleStained glassNail polishFertilizerLEDGasolineDiesel fuelJet fuelOrbital rocketMotor oilCredit cardPlastic wrapDishwasherGarden hoseAmerican footballVolleyballYoga matAction figureFashion dollDesk globeInflatable pool toyChain-link fencePVC pipeVinyl flooringPower cableSmoke detectorFlip-flopsUSB cableVinyl recordAdhesive bandagePacemakerRefrigeratorCarSkateboardSurfboardGolf ballSoccer ballBike helmetHardwood flooringWater heaterSofaOffice chairRoller skatesTennis racketBowling ballWheelchairUnderwearLeggingsSwimsuitRaincoatBackpackSneakerMattressSyringeHearing aidSolar panelAirbagWine corkPressure cookerBlenderEyeshadowProsthetic legDouble-glazed windowRemote controlElectric toothbrushRazor bladeToothbrushChewing gumTireBasketballEraserRubber bootsHockey puckPrinter tonerHiking bootsPlastic bagTin canAluminum canWindshieldBaseballRubik's CubeBallpoint penPaper cupPizza boxWallpaperLaminate flooringMarker penHighlighterSkiSnowboardFlying discBoard gameJigsaw puzzleTrading cardsFlagCompact discInkjet printerCardboard boxBookSticky notesPlaying cardsUmbrellaMicrowave ovenWashing machineElectric kettleScissorsMirrorElectric carAirlinerContainer shipShipping containerLocomotiveBicycleMotorcycleWooden chairStainless steel water bottleCeiling fanGolf clubFishing rodBilliard ballDartboardDiceDie-cast toy carCoil springHammerWheelbarrowFire extinguisherGas cylinderNeon signSuspension bridge cableAluminum window frameBrake padSubway trainLeather beltEyeglass frameDuct tapeLED light bulbElectric car batteryNailFiberglass insulationMicrowave popcornAcoustic guitarPianoViolinDrum kitPaper strawPaper bagWooden doorClear adhesive tapeStapleIce skatesCricket batChess setKiteUkuleleCelloDrumstickPinball machineSanitary padCotton swabAsphalt shingleSailboatDress shirtTailored suitLeather handbagHard-shell suitcaseLeather walletHigh heelsSmartwatchWireless earbudsLoudspeakerMicrophoneCamera lensE-readerEnvelopeMatchLeather shoeBaseball capDisposable diaperSuper gluePort wineInsect repellentLithium-ion cellSpark plugDigital thermometerMicrochipMemory chipPrinted circuit boardCamera sensorFaucetPadlockCoinGold ringAir conditionerFluteOlympic-style medalBronze bellLight switchPower outletVideo game consoleWi-Fi routerGraphics cardSewing needleFountain penGold barHip implantHard driveSafety pinTurbine bladeToasterDumbbellHeart stentWrenchSkyscraperSandwich cookieBrown sugarYogurtIce creamPeanut butterChocolateCotton candySprinklesChampagneHard ciderCondensed milkKimchiJamHazelnut spreadSalamiBeef jerkyWhite chocolateCaramelToffeeProseccoGranola barCast iron panBaby formulaBiodieselWooden spoonWineHot sauceShoelaceVacuum cleanerCrayonFireworksPlastic strawTamponPillowSilk tieWool blanketLeather glovesMechanical wristwatchSaxophoneDigital cameraCandleYo-yoSeat beltHoodieDown jacketFelt hatCurtainsZipperTeddy bearTelevisionWind turbineElectric motorElectrical transformerRebarSteel I-beamRailroad railSteel pipeBall bearingCar engineElevatorOak wine barrelHarmonicaDental flossBarbed wireDrill bitSolar cellTrumpetVacuum flaskCanoeLCD screenOLED screenOptical fiberEyeglass lensIncandescent light bulbGlass jarMezcalSmartphoneLipstickScrewBoltJet engineKeyAsthma inhalerCamera droneHook-and-loop fastenerRopeLEGO brick3D printer filamentLaptopComputer keyboardComputer mouseHeadphonesPhone chargerSatelliteFoam cupFrozen peasBubble wrapZip-top bagPlastic bottleTreadmillAluminum ladderSaw bladePaperclipElectric guitarChopsticksBaseball batSolid-state driveAluminum foilN95 maskGuitar stringDoor hingeBronze statueKitchen knifeStainless steel forkIbuprofenShovelWire ropeClothespinSlinkySteel chainSauerkraut
Keep walking
Sources
Cite this page: "How drinking water is sourced and treated." Assembly Line, 2026-11-03. https://assemblyline.org/make/water