Public Wells

Example of a pump and plumbing configuration used by public water systems. About 105 million people—or more than one-third of the Nation's population—receive their drinking water from one of the 140,000 public water systems across the United States that rely on groundwater pumped from public wells. The USGS studies source (untreated) water collected from public wells before treatment or blending, which often are used by public water systems to decrease contaminant concentrations below levels of potential human-health concern. These types of studies assist water utility managers and regulators in making decisions about future monitoring needs and drinking-water issues.