WHERE DOES YOUR DRINKING WATER COME FROM?
Have you ever wondered . . . Where your drinking water comes from? How it gets treated? How it's delivered to your faucet? Your Water Utility Water Tower at Fantasy of Flight, Polk City Photo by Donna Kaluzniak In Florida, about 88% of people get their drinking water (also called potable water) from a utility. The rest of the population have their own private wells. Some utilities provide more than just water. They may also include electric, gas, or sanitation. Public water systems (PWS) --are water utilities that are owned by a local government or agency. They serve about 93% of Florida's population. Sometimes the water utility is part of a city or county public works department. Florida has nearly 5,000 public water systems, but only about one-third (1,585) are community water systems that provide drinking water to homes year-round. The remaining two-thirds serve businesses, schools, campgrounds, factories, and other nonresidential facilities. Priv...