Where Does Water Come From?

When you enjoy a cool drink on a summer day or see rain falling against a window pane, do you ever wonder where water comes from? Both rainwater and drinking water go on an amazing journey to reach us, travelling many hundreds of miles above and below ground.

Wonderful Weather

Did you know that water travels up from the ground before it falls and lands on our heads as rain? It’s all part of the ‘water cycle’. The ‘water cycle’ is the journey water takes from land to sky and back again. It means there will always be rain every so often (sorry!) and we’ll never be quite sure when it will come. 

Our Daily Water

We use water every day in our homes and schools. How many times have you used water already today? Every time you have a drink, wash your hands or flush the toilet, you use water. But how does water get into our homes and schools in the first place? First it has to be collected. Then, clever cleaning systems purify the water and pump it to our homes through underground pipes.

We collect household and drinking water from two places: above the ground and below the ground. Water above the ground is known as ‘surface water’ and below the ground is called ‘ground water’.

Surface Water

Some of our household water comes from rainwater that has fallen into special lakes called ‘water reservoirs’. These are large water containers built from lakes and rivers. They hold water until it can be cleaned and pumped to our homes.

 

Ground Water

Most of our household water comes from below the ground. When rainwater sinks into the soil, it rests between layers of rock called ‘aquifers’. Water companies tunnel into these resting spots and pump the water away to be cleaned. Then it travels underground to our taps.

 

Recycling Water 

We need more than just clean drinking water in our lives. We also need gallons of water to care for the plants we grow and eat, but this water doesn’t have to be clean enough for humans to drink. So where does this water come from? Sometimes it comes from rainfall, but it also comes from our toilets. When you flush the loo, the water is taken to a sewage plant, where it is cleaned and then used to water plants and other land like golf courses. From there, it flows down into the ground where it is pumped away, cleaned and sent back to you as drinking water. It doesn’t sound very nice, but it’s a great way to recycle!

 

Save Water!Remember: Save Water by Turning the Tap off!

Climate change means it’s now harder to know how much rain we’ll get at certain times of the year. This means it’s more important than ever only to use as much water as you need. Don’t waste water – remember that without it the human race couldn’t survive!