Surface water is drawn from lakes, stream, rivers and has to flow through a treatment plant to make it clean and safe to drink. When the water's source is underground, the water utility must drill a deep well and pump the water through a well station, which also includes treatment equipment. No matter where the water comes from, it must be analyzed to make sure it is safe to drink. After the water is treated at a treatment plant or well station, it must be analyzed by a laboratory. After the water is treated and tested, it gets transported to a reservoir for storage.
Reservoirs can hold millions of gallons of water and can be above ground or underground.
Because they hold so much water, they have to be strong, so reservoirs are usually made of steel or concrete. Water from the reservoir gets to your home through a series of water mains that lie underground throughout the water company's service area. These pipes transport a large amount of water every day and have to be well maintained to prevent leaks. Before the water enters your home, it runs through a water meter, which records how much water you use every day. You water utility keeps track of your water use so you can be billed fairly.