Drinking water comes from both surface water and ground water. Surface water sources include rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
Ground water is pumped from wells that are drilled into aquifers.
Aquifers are geologic formations that contain water. Both surface water and ground water sources are replenished by rain or melted snow that has either filled up a surface water body or seeped into the ground. Your water utility or public works department can tell you the source of your public drinking water supply. The Safe Drinking Water Act defines a public water system as one that serves piped water to at least 25 persons or 15 service connections for at least 60 days per year. Water that does not come from a public water supply, and which serves only one or a few homes, is called a private supply.