From Source to Sink: What Happens to Water in Cities?

Understanding the Journey of Your Tap Water — and Where Risks Can Occur

Most people never think about what it takes for water to reach their faucet. But every glass of tap water has a long journey — from natural source, to treatment plant, to your sink.

🏞️ Step 1: The Source

City water typically starts from:

• Surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs)

• Groundwater (aquifers, wells)

These sources are vulnerable to:

• Agricultural runoff (pesticides, fertilizers)

• Industrial discharge

• Animal waste and natural minerals (like arsenic or iron)

🏭 Step 2: Water Treatment

Municipal water goes through several stages of treatment before reaching your home:

• Coagulation & Flocculation – chemicals are added to bind contaminants

• Sedimentation – particles settle to the bottom

• Filtration – water passes through layers of sand, gravel, or carbon

• Disinfection – chlorine or chloramine is added to kill pathogens

⚠️ Risk points:

• Treatment doesn’t remove all contaminants (e.g., PFAS, pharmaceuticals)

• Disinfection byproducts (like trihalomethanes) can form when chlorine reacts with organic matter

🚰 Step 3: Distribution to Homes

Treated water travels through miles of underground pipes, some of which are decades old. Along the way, it can be exposed to:

• Corroded lead pipes or solder

• Microbial growth in stagnant sections

• Pressure changes that allow contaminants to seep in

This is where issues like lead contamination, discoloration, or boil water notices may originate.

🧪 Step 4: At Your Faucet

By the time it reaches your sink, water may:

• Be clean and compliant — but still carry low levels of unwanted substances

• Taste or smell off due to chlorine or metals

• Be affected by plumbing in your own home

That’s why many households choose additional filtration or ionization to ensure their water is not just “legal,” but truly clean,  and supportive of long-term hydration wellness.

Final Thought: The Journey Shapes the Quality

Understanding how your water gets to you helps you make smart, empowered choices. It’s not just about what leaves the treatment plant — it’s about what arrives in your glass.

💧 Want to learn what’s in your water and how to filter it wisely?