 Drinking
Water for Kids
Do you know where your drinking water comes from?
People who live in the city usually get their water from a public
water system. People who live in the country may get their water from a
private well.
A public water system sends drinking water to your house through pipes.
There are more than 17,000 public water systems in Washington State.
- Surface water systems get their water from sources above the
ground - such as lakes and streams.
- Groundwater systems get their water from sources under the
ground - such as wells.
Public water systems are also organized by how many people use them:
 Group A systems: supply water to 15 houses or more.
Group
B systems: supply water to less than 15 houses.
People that work at public water systems make sure your water is safe
to drink. They test it for germs or other bad things. These people are
called water system operators. Operators take classes to help them do
their jobs better.
People who live in the country may get their water from a private
well. A well with a pump brings the water from under the ground up to
your house. People who get their water from a private well need to make sure
their water is safe to drink. You can get water sampling bottles from
your health department. Fill the bottles with water from your house and
take them into the health department to get tested. |
