Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tap water
Tap water (running water, city water, town water, municipal
water, etc.) is water supplied to a tap (valve). Its uses include
drinking, washing, cooking, and the flushing of toilets. Indoor tap
water is distributed through "indoor plumbing", which has existed
since antiquity but was available to very few people until the second
half of the 19th century when it began to spread in popularity in what
are now developed countries. Tap water became common in many
regions during the 20th century, and is now lacking mainly among
people in poverty, especially in developing countries.
A simple indoor water tap
Tap water is often culturally assumed to be drinking water, especially
in developed countries. Usually it is potable, although water quality
problems are not rare. Household water purification methods such as water filters, boiling, or distillation can be
used when tap water's potability is doubted. The application of technologies (such as water treatment plants)
involved in providing clean water to homes, businesses, and public buildings is a major subfield of sanitary
engineering. Calling a water supply "tap water" distinguishes it from the other main types of fresh water which
may be available; these include water from rainwatercollecting cisterns, water from village pumps or town
pumps, or water carried from streams, rivers, or lakes (whose potability may vary).
Contents
Background
Potable water supply
Hot water supply
Fixtures and appliances
Fittings and valves
Materials
Plastic
Metals
Lead pipes
Regulation and compliance
United States
Wastewater
Water flow reduction
Comparison to bottled water
See also
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 1/7
1/1/2018 Tap water Wikipedia
External links
Background
Publicly available treated water has historically been associated with major increases in life expectancy and
improved public health. Waterborne diseases are vastly reduced by proper sewage and fresh water availability.
Providing tap water to large urban or suburban populations requires a complex and carefully designed system of
collection, storage, treatment and distribution, and is commonly the responsibility of a government agency, often
the same agency responsible for the removal and treatment of clean water.
Specific chemical compounds are often taken out of tap water during the treatment process to adjust the pH or
remove contaminants, and chlorine may be added to kill biological toxins. Local geological conditions affecting
groundwater are determining factors for the presence of various metal ions, often rendering the water "soft" or
"hard".
Tap water remains susceptible to biological or chemical contamination. In the event of contamination deemed
dangerous to public health, government officials typically issue an advisory regarding water consumption. In the
case of biological contamination, residents are usually advised to boil their water before consumption or to use
bottled water as an alternative. In the case of chemical contamination, residents may be advised to refrain from
consuming tap water entirely until the matter is resolved.
In many areas a compound of fluoride is added to tap water in an effort to improve dental health among the
public. In some communities "fluoridation" remains a controversial issue. (See water fluoridation controversy.)
Potable water supply
This supply may come from several possible sources.
Municipal water supply
Water wells
Processed water from creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, rainwater, etc.
Domestic water systems have been evolving since people first located their homes near a running water supply,
such as a stream or river. The water flow also allowed sending waste water away from the residences.
Modern indoor plumbing delivers clean, safe, potable water to each service point in the distribution system. It is
important that the clean water not be contaminated by the waste water (disposal) side of the process system.
Historically, this contamination of drinking water has been the largest killer of humans. [1]
Tap water can sometimes appear cloudy, often mistaken for mineral impurities in the water. It is usually caused
by air bubbles coming out of solution due to change in temperature or pressure. Because cold water holds more air
than warm water, small bubbles will appear in water. It has a high dissolved gas content that is heated or
depressurized, which reduces how much dissolved gas the water can hold. The harmless cloudiness of the water
disappears quickly as the gas is released from the water. [2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 2/7
1/1/2018 Tap water Wikipedia
Hot water supply
Domestic hot water is provided by means of water heater appliances, or through district heating. The hot water
from these units is then piped to the various fixtures and appliances that require hot water, such as lavatories,
sinks, bathtubs, showers, washing machines, and dishwashers.
Fixtures and appliances
Everything in a building that uses water falls under one of two categories; fixture or appliance. As the
consumption points above perform their function, most produce waste/sewage components that will require
removal by the waste/sewage side of the system. The minimum is an air gap. See cross connection control &
backflow prevention for an overview of backflow prevention methods and devices currently in use, both through
the use of mechanical and physical principles.
Fixtures are devices that use water without an additional source of power.
Fittings and valves
Potable water supply systems are composed of pipes, fittings and valves.
Materials
The installation of water pipes can be done using the following plastic[3] and metal[3] materials:
Plastic
polybutylene (PB)
high density crosslinked polyethylene (PEX)
block copolymer of polypropylene (PPB)
the polypropylene copolymer (PPH)
random copolymer of polypropylene (random) (PPR)
Layer: crosslinked polyethylene, aluminum, highdensity polyethylene (PEX / Al / PEHD)
Layer: polyethylene crosslinked, aluminum, crosslinked polyethylene (PEX / Al / PEX)
Layer copolymer of a random polypropylene, aluminum, polypropylene random copolymer (PPR / Al / PPR)
polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated (PVCC)
polyvinyl chloride not softened(only cold water) (PVCU)
Metals
carbon steel, ordinary galvanized
corrosion resistant steel
copper(CuDHP)
Lead was previously used.
Other materials, if the pipes made from them have been let into circulation and the widespread use in the
construction of the water supply systems.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 3/7
1/1/2018 Tap water Wikipedia
Lead pipes
For many centuries, water pipes were made of lead, because of its ease of processing and durability. The use of lead
pipes was a cause of health problems due to ignorance of the dangers of lead on the human body, which causes
miscarriages and high death rates of newborns. Lead pipes, which were installed mostly in the late 1800s in the
US, are still common today, much of which are located in the Northeast and the Midwest. Their impact is
relatively small due to the fouling of pipes and stone cessation of the evolution of lead in the water; however, lead
pipes are still detrimental. Most of the lead pipes that exist today are being removed and replaced with the more
common material, copper or some type of plastic.
Remnants of pipes in some languages are the names of the experts involved in the execution, reparation,
maintenance, and installation of water supply systems, which have been formed from the Latin word 'lead',
English word 'plumber', French word, 'plombier'.
Regulation and compliance
United States
Before a water supply system is constructed or modified, the designer and contractor need to consult the local
plumbing code and obtain a building permit prior to construction. [4][5] Even replacing an existing water heater
may require a permit and inspection of the work. The US national standard for potable water piping guidelines is
NSF/ANSI 61 certified materials. NSF/ANSI also sets standards for certifying polytanks, though the FDA approves
the materials. National and local fire codes should be integrated in the design phase of the water system too to
prevent "failure to comply with regulations" notices. Some areas of the United States require onsite water reserves
of potable and fire water by law.
Wastewater
Wastewater from various appliances, fixtures, and taps is transferred to the waste and sewage removal system via
the sewage drain system to treatment plants. This system consists of larger diameter piping, water traps, and
ventilation to prevent toxic gases from entering the living space.
Water flow reduction
Water flow though a tap can be reduced by inexpensive small plastic flow reducers. These restrict flow between 15
and 50%, aiding water conservation and reducing the burden on both water supply and treatment facilities.
Comparison to bottled water
In modern Western society, levels of contaminants found in tap water vary for every household and plumbing
system but tend to be low. Two general conceptions with popular appeal are:
1. That tap water is widely contaminated
2. That bottled water is assuredly pure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 4/7
1/1/2018 Tap water Wikipedia
Both lack scientific support. In reality, both tap water and bottled water are usually safe, although in both cases
exceptions can occur. The University of Cincinnati recently completed a Tap Water Quality Analysis, funded by
PUR, for major US cities. [6] Its findings show generally safe water quality in most regions. While most US cities
have what is considered safe tap water, contaminants ranging from bacteria to heavy metals are present in some
tap water, and occasionally serious violations of tap water standards have been wellpublicized, such as the severe
1993 Cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which led to several deaths and around 400,000
illnesses (see: Milwaukee Cryptosporidium outbreak). Regarding bottled water quality perceptions and reality, in
1999, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released controversial findings from a 4year study on
bottled water. The results of this study claimed that onethird of the waters tested contained levels of
contamination—including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic—in at least one sample that
exceeded allowable limits under either state or bottled water industry standards or guidelines. [7] However, the
bottled water industry was quick to dispute the claim, saying bottled water is one of the most highly regulated
food products under the FDA regulatory authority and that the FDA system worked extremely well when coupled
with the International Bottled Water Association's Model Code and unannounced inspections. [8]
Using tap water (whether straight from the tap or filtered first) is generally considered to be better for one's
environmental impact than habitually drinking bottled water, because the bottling and distribution of bottled
water consumes resources and produces emissions (electricity and oil to make the bottles, diesel fuel to truck the
filled bottles through the supply chain, truck exhaust, powerplant emissions, bottle recycling, and so on). In
comparison, the water treatment plant activities were going to happen anyway in either case, but the other costs
and effects are avoided in the tap water case.
Many municipalities in the United States are making an effort to use tap water over bottled water on government
properties and events. However, others voted the idea down, including voters in the state of Washington, who
repealed a bottled water tax via citizen initiative. [9]
James Workman, author of the book Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming
Age of Permanent Drought and cofounder of SmartMarkets says that he doesn't believe that "tap water is bad
and bottled water is good". Rather he cites differences in quality regulations and standards. "Bottled water is often
tap water put through another filter and not held to the same quality regulations as public utility water is."[10]
Chlorine is a disinfectant which is added to tap water in the United States. [11] Chlorine can leave organic material
like trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in the water. The level of chlorine found is small, 1L of chlorinated water
gives 0.2 mg of chlorine, which has not been found to cause any health problems. [12]
See also
Automatic balancing valves
Bottled water
Drought
Fountain
Irrigation
Rainwater
Water supply
Water pipe
Water cycle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 5/7
1/1/2018 Tap water Wikipedia
Walkerton Tragedy
References
1. Plumbing: the Arteries of Civilization, Modern Marvels video series, The History Channel, AAE42223, A&E
Television, 1996
2. Massachusetts Water Resource Authority. http://www.mwra.com/04water/2004/whitewater.htm
3. "INSTALACJE WODOCIĄGOWE" (http://www.anr.gov.pl/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=83e2e56e15184d
72bcfc210de29a741a&groupId=96805.). Anr.gov.pl. 2003.
4. Uniform Plumbing Code, IAPMO
5. International Plumbing Code, ICC
6. "Tap Water Quality Analysis" (http://www.uc.edu/gissa/projects/drinkingwater/)
7. "NRDC: Summary Findings of NRDC's 1999 Bottled Water Report" (http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.a
sp). nrdc.org. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
8. "Key Message Points" (http://www.bottledwater.org/content/keymessagepoints). bottledwater.org. Retrieved
21 May 2015.
9. Washington's Gregoire plans 400 million more in budget cuts (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010121
6/washingtonsgregoireplans400millionmoreincuts.html), Bloomberg Businessweek, December 16, 2010
10. van der Leun, Justine (September 2009). "A Closer Look at New Research on Water Safety" (http://www.aolhe
alth.com/healthyliving/pollutionwatereffects). AOL Health. Retrieved September 2009. Check date values in:
|access‐date= (help)
11. Saucerman, Linda (200709). Chlorine (https://books.google.com/books?id=aCwBPRYqqgC&pg=PT37&dq=Ch
lorine+disinfectant+which+is+added+to+tap+water+in+the+United+States&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8_7P
RnebUAhVV2WMKHWAlAK0Q6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=Chlorine%20disinfectant%20which%20is%20adde
d%20to%20tap%20water%20in%20the%20United%20States&f=false). The Rosen Publishing Group.
ISBN 9781404219625. Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. Petraccia, L., Liberati, G., Masciullo S.G., Grassi, M. & Fraioli, A. "Water, mineral waters and health". Clinical
Nutrition. 25 (3): 377–385. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2005.10.002 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.clnu.2005.10.002).
ASTM B7502 Specification for Seamless Copper Tube
ASTM B4202e1 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Pipe, Standard Sizes
ASTM B8803 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube
AWWA Research Foundation, Residential End Uses of Water, ISBN 1583210164, 1999
External links
The Water Information Center (http://water.nationalacademies.org/) An online resource for public water
system basics and water management issues from the National Academy of Sciences.
US Environmental Protection Agency Drinking water page (http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watedrinkingwater.ht
ml)
US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Water Public Water Systems (https://www.c
dc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/index.html) Onestop resource for information on public water systems
supplying tap water including information on drinking water, fluoridation, water testing, waterrelated diseases
and contaminants, etc., plus links to EPA, WHO, and other resources.
the International Code Council (http://www.iccsafe.org/)
the American Society for Testing and Materials (http://www.astm.org/)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 6/7
1/1/2018 Tap water Wikipedia
the National Ground Water Association (http://www.ngwa.org/)
The Copper Development Association (http://www.copper.org/)
2008 Municipal Water Pricing Report(Canada) (http://www.priceofwater.com/municipalsummary.html)
Notes on Pipe (http://www.gizmology.net/pipe.htm)—Copper Pipe weights and max PSI
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tap_water&oldid=812555510"
This page was last edited on 28 November 2017, at 14:33.
Text is available under the Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using
this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water 7/7