Please click on a text box for the detailed treatment process pages.

Generally speaking, when a home is constructed "out in the sticks," alone and by itself, a groundwater well will most probably be constructed if the groundwater has a water table that is not too deep. The well is an excellent option if the groundwater is fit for potable water consumption. High concentrations of heavy metals, such as copper and chrome, may not allow the use of the groundwater as a potable water source. High levels of calcium and magnesium (hard water), etc. may require that the water be treated prior to being utilized. In most cases, the groundwater source is most often the most cost effective and easiest source of water for a single home in the country.

The modern single home will also use a septic tank to dispose of the wastewater generated within the home. The "septic tank" has two principle components: The tank and the leach lines. The tank is used to collect the organic solids generated in the home, allowing them to settle to the bottom of the tank where they are biologically decomposed. The water flows through the upper level of the tank and out into the leach field. The leach field has a series of perforated pipes that allow the water to seep into the ground. (I will add a chapter for septic tanks within the next couple months.) At some point, based on the number of persons using the septic system, and the type/quantity of of materials flushed into the septic system, the tank will need to be pumped out to remove the inert materials that have accumulated in the tank.  

As more homes and businesses are built nearby, the higher water tables may be over-pumped, and the water table levels drop. Wells may interfere with one another when their cones of depression overlap each other. As the water table drops, the cost of pumping the water up to the point of usage increases. There may also come a point that the upper aquifer is over-pumped and deeper wells are required to find new aquifers. As even more homes and businesses are added, the settlement becomes a small community, and it becomes more cost effective for all of the residents to pool their resources to develop a large well, and construct a water distribution system.

With this new water distribution system, fire hydrants will be added which will increase public safety and lower home and business owner insurance premiums. A water system permit will no doubt be required by regional governmental agencies. This may also require that a water treatment and/or water distribution system operator be employed to properly operate and perform water quality sampling and testing for the new water system.

If the community has a producing groundwater aquifer that can support one or more additional wells, then the community constructs additional wells, usually spreading them out in the system so that they do not interfere with one another. This allows the community to grow, adding more homes and businesses. Schools and maybe a small hospital may also be connected to the water distribution system. Reservoirs, and emergency generators for the wells and 'ground-level reservoir' pumps are added when the community decides that it needs these added protections. 

If the groundwater sources are not available, or we are unable to continue using groundwater sources, we usually turn to surface water sources such as streams, rivers, and lakes. This water source is more difficult to use as it most always requires treatment, and the changing seasons change the quality of the raw water which requires a trained operator to monitor and adjust the treatment processes to address the changing raw water source. The type of surface water, or even groundwater, potable water treatment plant is determined by a number of factors, described in the narrative of the Town Potable Water Treatment Overview.

At some point in a communities development, (and also influenced by the type of soil, the closeness of the homes, etc.,) it decides to close down the individual septic tank systems and construct a wastewater collection system, and a wastewater treatment plant. Many communities are forced to do this when their wells are being adversely impacted by their septic tanks. The type of wastewater treatment plant is determined by a number of factors, described in the narrative of the Town Wastewater Treatment Overview.

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