This article will explain where your drinking water comes from and define the two types of water systems.
Surface water consists of lakes, reservoirs, and rivers.
The large-scale water supply companies tend to rely on surface water to serve their customers. According the U.S. Geological Survey's 1996 National Water Summary, approximately 47 percent of the population use surface water for their source of water. Ground water is found in the pores and cavities of rocks beneath the earth's surface. The water must be pumped out of wells. The depth of the wells depends on its location.