Tap water
In most
developed nations water is piped to homes, and is available on tap. The provision of
tap water requires a massive infrastructure of piping, pumps, and
water purification works. The cost of tap water is a small fraction of
bottled water, even though the same water supply that is used for drinking is also used for washing and flushing water closets.
The availability of clean tap water brings major public health benefits. Usually, the same administration that provides tap water is also responsible for the removal of waste water.
See also: Water resources, electrokinetics