Evaporation
This occurs when the sun’s energy converts liquid to vapor. This invisible water vapor rises up into the atmosphere, where the air is cooler. Water evaporates more quickly when it is hot outside.
Drinking Water
This is the water that is safe for consumption. Drinking water that enters your home for you to use after it has been treated at a drinking water plant.
Condensation
After the water is turned into vapor through the evaporation process, it rises in the atmosphere since it is lighter than air. As it rises, the cooler temperatures turn this water vapor into tiny droplets of water. These droplets come together to form clouds.
Sewage
Water that goes down the drains in your house is called sewage. This water then travels to a wastewater-treatment plant. At the treatment facility, certain pollutants are removed from the water so that it can safely go back into the environment as surface water or groundwater.
Surface Water
This is the water that is found on the Earth’s surface, in places like rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, and reservoirs. Surface water is mainly used for drinking, irrigation, and other public uses.
Reuse
Reuse, or water recycling, means reusing treated wastewater for helpful purposes such as lawn and crop watering, industrial processes, toilet flushing, and replenishing a groundwater basin.
Groundwater
This is the water that remains below the land surface. Water occupies all of the cracks and openings between rocks underneath the soil. Groundwater can be withdrawn for people to use, keeps plants alive, fills our aquifers, and eventually travels to our lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Power Plant
Hydroelectric power plants are usually located on or near a water source. Once water is released from the reservoir, electricity is created at the power plant. This electricity travels through power lines to homes, schools, and offices.
Precipitation
This is how water comes back to the Earth. In the clouds, tiny water droplets combine to form larger drops. Once these larger drops get heavy enough, gravity pulls them back to Earth’s surface. Precipitation is seen in many forms – rain, sleet, hail, and snow.
Infiltration
This is the process where water soaks into the ground. After seeping into the ground, this water recharges the groundwater supply.
Sludge
After water travels to a wastewater treatment facility, the solids are separated during the treatment process. These solids are called sewage sludge.
Rain Barrel
Rain barrels are used to collect and reuse rainwater. These barrels catch rainwater running off of your roof. It can then be used to water your plants and trees.
Drinking Water Plant
These treatment facilities prepare water for human consumption by disinfecting and filtering the water. More than likely, the water that enters your house came from a water-treatment plant!
Hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity is energy from moving water. The amount of energy depends on the volume of flow and the change in elevation from one point to another. Water is accumulated in reservoirs created by dams and released to create electricity.
Biosolids
Once treated, sewage sludge turns into biosolids. Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials produced during the wastewater treatment process. They can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to keep soil healthy and help plants grow.
Biogas
Biogas is produced during the wastewater treatment process. This biogas can be used a renewable energy source.
