Water Supplies for Towns and Cities

There are many ways in which a city gets their water supply.

• A dam. Not only does it serve as a reliable source for cities with erratic rainfall, but it also helps to contain water in the event of flash flooding so that the city will not be damaged. There are also many problems with dams. They flood lands above the dam and create dry arid lands below the dam that cannot sustain any life.
• Ground water. This is a method used in many places that don't get much rain throughout the year. Water that falls on the land infiltrates though the earth and is stored in aquifers until it flows out into the ocean. This water can be used if it is pumped out of the ground. In Australia, many farmers have to use ground water from the Great Artesian Basin to obtain their water since much of the land is dry and arid. There are many different types of aquifers, and they are named in the way that water reaches them -- Alluvial aquifer, Porous rock aquifer, and fractured rock aquifer, just to name a few. Although water in the aquifer picks up impurities, it is often cleaner than surface water.
• Surface water. This is the water that we usually use in our daily lives. Although it is easier to use than ground water, due to the overland trip that it makes, it is often more polluted.

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