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{{short description|Publicly available water supplied to homes}}
[[Image:Wasserhahn.jpg|thumb|A simple indoor water tap]]

'''Tap water''' (also known as '''faucet water''', '''running water''', or '''municipal water''') is [[water]] supplied through a [[Tap (valve)|tap]], a water dispenser valve. In many countries, tap water usually has the quality of [[drinking water]]. Tap water is commonly used for [[drinking]], [[cooking]], [[washing]], and [[Flush toilet|toilet flushing]]. Indoor tap water is distributed through indoor [[plumbing]], which has existed since [[History of plumbing|antiquity]] but was available to very few people until the second half of the 19th century when it began to spread in popularity in what are now [[developed country|developed countries]]. Tap water became common in many regions during the 20th century, and is now lacking mainly among people in [[poverty]], especially in [[developing country|developing countries]].

Governmental agencies commonly regulate [[Drinking water quality standards|tap water quality]]. Household [[water purification]] methods such as [[water filter]]s, [[boiling]], or [[distillation]] can be used to treat tap water's microbial contamination to improve its [[potability]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ahuja|first=Satinder|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1078565849|title=Advances in Water Purification Techniques : Meeting the Needs of Developed and Developing Countries.|date=2018|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-12-814791-7|location=San Diego|oclc=1078565849}}</ref> The application of technologies (such as [[water treatment]] plants) involved in providing clean water to homes, [[Business|businesses]], and public buildings is a major subfield of [[sanitary engineering]]. Calling a water supply "tap water" distinguishes it from the other main types of fresh water which may be available; these include water from [[Rainwater harvesting|rainwater]]-collecting [[cistern]]s, water from [[village pump]]s or town pumps, water from [[Water well|well]]s, or water carried from streams, rivers, or lakes (whose potability may vary).

==Background==
Providing tap water to large [[Urban area|urban]] or [[suburb]]an populations requires a complex and carefully designed system of collection, storage, [[water purification|treatment]] and [[Water distribution system|distribution]], and is commonly the responsibility of a government agency.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Publicly available treated water has historically been associated with major increases in [[life expectancy]] and improved [[public health]]. [[Water purification|Water disinfection]] can greatly reduce the risks of [[Water-borne diseases|waterborne diseases]] such as [[Typhoid fever|typhoid]] and [[cholera]]. There is a great need around the world to disinfect drinking water. [[Water chlorination|Chlorination]] is currently the most widely used water disinfection method, although chlorine compounds can react with substances in water and produce [[disinfection by-product]]s (DBP) that pose problems to human health.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/730450380|title=Water disinfection|date=2010|publisher=Nova Science Publishers|others=Kelly M. Buchanan|isbn=978-1-61122-401-6|location=Hauppauge, N.Y.|oclc=730450380}}</ref> Local geological conditions affecting [[groundwater]] are determining factors for the presence of various [[metal ion]]s, often rendering the water "[[Soft Water|soft]]" or "[[hard water|hard]]".{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Tap water remains susceptible to biological or chemical contamination. Water contamination remains a serious health issue around the world, and diseases resulted from consuming contaminated water cause the death of 1.6 million children each year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Ahuja |first=Satinder |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1078565849 |title=Advances in Water Purification Techniques: Meeting the Needs of Developed and Developing Countries |date=2018 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-12-814791-7 |location=San Diego |oclc=1078565849}}</ref> In the event of contamination deemed dangerous to public health, government officials typically issue an advisory regarding water consumption. In the case of [[biological contamination]], residents are usually advised to boil their water before consumption or to use bottled water as an alternative. In the case of [[Contamination|chemical contamination]], residents may be advised to refrain from consuming tap water entirely until the matter is resolved.

In many areas, low concentration of [[fluoride]] (< 1.0 ppm F) is intentionally added to tap water to improve [[dental health]], although in some communities "[[Water fluoridation|fluoridation]]" remains a controversial issue. (See [[water fluoridation controversy]]). However, long-term consumption of water with high fluoride concentration (> 1.5 ppm F) can have serious undesirable consequences such as [[dental fluorosis]], enamel mottle and [[skeletal fluorosis]], bone deformities in children. Fluorosis severity depends on how much fluoride is present in the water, as well as people's diet and physical activity. Defluoridation methods include membrane-based methods, precipitation, absorption, and electrocoagulation.<ref name=":1" />

==Fixtures and appliances==
Everything in a building that uses water falls under one of two categories; fixture or appliance. As the consumption points above perform their function, most produce waste/sewage components that will require removal by the waste/sewage side of the system. The minimum is an air gap. See [[cross connection control & backflow prevention]] for an overview of backflow prevention methods and devices currently in use, both through the use of mechanical and physical principles.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Fixtures are devices that use water without an additional source of power.

===Fittings and valves===
{{main|Piping and plumbing fittings}}
Potable water supply systems are composed of [[Pipe (fluid conveyance)|pipe]]s, [[Piping and plumbing fittings|fittings]] and [[valve]]s.

===Materials===
The installation of [[Plumbing|water pipes]] can be done using the following plastic<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Indoor|url=https://tanklesses.com/takagi-t-kjr2-in-ng/.|website=tanklesses.com}}</ref> and metal<ref name=":0" /> materials:

====Plastic====
* [[polybutylene]] (PB)
* high density cross-linked [[polyethylene]] (PE-X)
* block [[copolymer]] of polypropylene (PP-B)
* the polypropylene copolymer (PP-H)
* random copolymer of polypropylene (random) (PP-R)
* Layer: cross-linked polyethylene, aluminum, high-density polyethylene (PE-X / Al / PE-HD)
* Layer: polyethylene crosslinked, aluminum, cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X / Al / PE-X)
* Layer copolymer of a random polypropylene, aluminum, polypropylene random copolymer (PP-R / Al / PP-R)
* [[polyvinyl chloride]], chlorinated (PVC-C)
* polyvinyl chloride - not softened(only cold water) (PVC-U)

====Metals====
* [[carbon steel]], ordinary galvanized
* corrosion resistant steel
* Deoxidized High Phosphorus [[copper]](Cu-DHP)
* [[lead]] (no longer used for new installations due to its [[Lead#Biological effects|toxicity]])

Other materials, if the pipes made from them have been let into circulation and the widespread use in the construction of the water supply systems.

==== Lead pipes ====
For many centuries, water pipes were made of lead, because of its ease of processing and durability. The use of lead pipes was a cause of health problems due to ignorance of the dangers of lead on the human body, which causes miscarriages and high death rates of newborns. Lead pipes, which were installed mostly in the late 1800s in the US, are still common today, much of which are located in the Northeast and the Midwest.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Troesken, Werner|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/70176961|title=The great lead water pipe disaster|date=2006|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=0-262-20167-4|oclc=70176961}}</ref> Their impact is relatively small due to the fouling of pipes and stone cessation of the evolution of lead in the water; however, lead pipes are still detrimental. Most of the lead pipes that exist today are being removed and replaced with the more common material, copper or some type of plastic.

Remnants of pipes in some languages are the names of the experts involved in the execution, reparation, maintenance, and installation of water supply systems, which have been formed from the Latin word 'lead', English word 'plumber', French word, 'plombier'.

==Potable water supply==
{{main|Drinking water}}

[[File:Clean water for a village in West Lombok (10686572086).jpg|thumb|upright|An outdoor drinking water tap at Desa Dasan Geria Village, West Lombok]]
[[Image:Safe drink tap water map.png|thumb|Where you can drink tap water around the world]]
Potable water is water that is drinkable and does not pose a risk to health.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|author=Yigezu, Israel|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/878149046|title=The challenges and prospects of potable water management at edja woreda-ethiopi|date=February 2014|publisher=Anchor Academic Publishing (aap_verlag) |isbn=978-3-95489-610-3|oclc=878149046}}</ref> This supply may come from several possible sources.
* Municipal water supply
* [[Water well]]s
* Processed water from creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, rainwater, etc.

Domestic water systems have been evolving since people first located their homes near a running water supply, such as a stream or river. The water flow also allowed sending [[wastewater]] away from the residences.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Modern [[plumbing]] delivers clean, safe, and potable water to each service point in [[water distribution system]], including taps.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|last=Board.|first=National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Public Water Supply Distribution Systems: Assessing and Reducing Risks. National Research Council (U.S.). Water Science and Technology|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/71294470|title=Drinking water distribution systems : assessing and reducing risks|date=2006|publisher=National Academies Press|isbn=0-309-10306-1|oclc=71294470}}</ref> It is important that the clean water not be contaminated by the wastewater (disposal) side of the process system. Historically, this contamination of drinking water has been one of the largest killers of humans.<ref>''Plumbing: the Arteries of Civilization'', Modern Marvels video series, The History Chfifr5tyk A&E Television, 1996</ref>

Most of the mandates for enforcing [[drinking water quality standards]] are not for the distribution system, but for the treatment plant. Even though the water distribution system is supposed to deliver the treated water to the consumers' taps without water quality degradation, complicated physical, chemical, and biological factors within the system can cause contamination of tap water.<ref name=":03"/>

There is a huge gap regarding the potable water supply between the developed and developing world. In general, Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, has the poorest water supply system in the world because of the insufficient access to the system and the low quality of the water in the region,<ref name=":12" /> while [[Finland]] has the best tap water quality in the world according to a reports by [[UNICEF]] and [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001297/129726e.pdf|title=WWDR1: Water for People – water for life|date=2003|publisher=[[UNESCO]] and [[Berghahn Books]]|access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/water-is-enough-reason-to-visit-finland-heres-why/|title=Water Is Enough Reason to Visit Finland, Here's Why|publisher=Culture Trip|date=4 June 2018|access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mediconnection.fi/en/water-finland-purest-world/|title=Water in Finland purest in the world|publisher=MEDI Connection|date=22 March 2019|access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turku.fi/en/news/2021-12-01_quality-water-produced-turku-region-water-rated-best-world-unesco|title=The quality of water produced by Turku Region Water is rated the best in the world by Unesco|publisher=City of Turku|date=1 December 2021|access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref>

Tap water can sometimes appear cloudy and is often mistaken for mineral impurities in the water. It is usually caused by air bubbles coming out of solution due to change in temperature or pressure. Because cold water holds more air than warm water, small bubbles will appear in water. It has a high dissolved gas content that is heated or depressurized, which reduces how much dissolved gas the water can hold. The harmless cloudiness of the water disappears quickly as the gas is released from the water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why is my tap water cloudy?|url=https://www.mwra.com/04water/2004/whitewater.htm|access-date=2023-03-27|website=www.mwra.com}}</ref>

===Hot water supply===
{{Main|Hot water system}}
Domestic hot water is provided by means of [[water heating|water heater]] appliances, or through [[district heating]]. The hot water from these units is then piped to the various fixtures and appliances that require hot water, such as lavatories, sinks, bathtubs, showers, washing machines, and dishwashers.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

===Water flow reduction===
{{main|Water conservation}}
Water flow through a tap can be reduced by inexpensive small plastic flow reducers. These restrict flow between 15 and 50%, aiding [[water conservation]] and reducing the burden on both [[water supply]] and [[sewerage treatment|treatment]] facilities.

==Comparison to bottled water==
{{Globalize|section|date=April 2010}}
{{See also|Bottled water#Bottled water versus tap water}}

=== United States ===
[[Contaminant]] levels found in tap water vary between [[household]]s and [[Plumbing|plumbing systems]]. While the majority of US households have access to high-quality tap water, demand for [[bottled water]] increases.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Doria|first=Miguel F.|date=2006-06-01|title=Bottled water versus tap water: understanding consumers' preferences|journal=Journal of Water and Health|volume=4|issue=2|pages=271–276|doi=10.2166/wh.2006.0023|pmid=16813019|issn=1477-8920|doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2002, the [[Gallup (company)|Gallup Public Opinion Poll]] revealed that the possible health risk associated with tap water consumption is one of the main reasons that cause American consumers to prefer bottled water over tap water.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Saylor|first1=Amber|last2=Prokopy|first2=Linda Stalker|last3=Amberg|first3=Shannon|date=September 2011|title=What's Wrong with the Tap? Examining Perceptions of Tap Water and Bottled Water at Purdue University|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00267-011-9692-6|journal=Environmental Management|language=en|volume=48|issue=3|pages=588–601|doi=10.1007/s00267-011-9692-6|pmid=21643837|bibcode=2011EnMan..48..588S|s2cid=22067616|issn=0364-152X}}</ref>

The trust level towards tap water depends on various criteria, including the existing governmental regulations towards the water quality and their appliance. In 1993, [[Cryptosporidium|the cryptosporidium]] outbreak in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], led to a massive hospitalization of more than 400,000 residents and was considered the largest in US history.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mac Kenzie|first1=William R.|last2=Hoxie|first2=Neil J.|last3=Proctor|first3=Mary E.|last4=Gradus|first4=M. Stephen|last5=Blair|first5=Kathleen A.|last6=Peterson|first6=Dan E.|last7=Kazmierczak|first7=James J.|last8=Addiss|first8=David G.|last9=Fox|first9=Kim R.|last10=Rose|first10=Joan B.|last11=Davis|first11=Jeffrey P.|date=1994-07-21|title=A Massive Outbreak in Milwaukee of Cryptosporidium Infection Transmitted through the Public Water Supply|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=331|issue=3|pages=161–167|doi=10.1056/NEJM199407213310304|issn=0028-4793|pmid=7818640|doi-access=free}}</ref> Severe violations of tap water standards influence the decrease in public trust.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pierce|first1=Gregory|last2=Gonzalez|first2=Silvia|date=2017-02-01|title=Mistrust at the tap? Factors contributing to public drinking water (mis)perception across US households|url=https://iwaponline.com/wp/article/19/1/1/20521/Mistrust-at-the-tap-Factors-contributing-to-public|journal=Water Policy|language=en|volume=19|issue=1|pages=1–12|doi=10.2166/wp.2016.143|issn=1366-7017|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The difference in water quality between bottled and tap water is debatable. In 1999, the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] (NRDC) released controversial findings from a 4-year study on bottled water. The study claimed that one-third of the tested waters were contaminated with [[Chemical substance|synthetic organic chemicals]], [[bacteria]], and [[arsenic]]. At least one sample exceeded state guidelines for contamination levels in bottled water.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 5, 2016|title=The Truth About Tap|url=https://www.nrdc.org/stories/truth-about-tap|access-date=2021-04-24|website=NRDC|language=en}}</ref>

In the United States, some municipalities make an effort to use tap water over bottled water on governmental properties and events. Voters in Washington State repealed a bottled water tax via citizen initiative.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNamara |first1=Neal |title=Washington state says goodbye to bottle and candy taxes |url=https://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/washington-state-says-goodbye-to-bottle-and-candy-taxes/ |access-date=2 April 2022 |publisher=Federal Way Mirror |date=December 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Initiative Measure 1107 Concerns reversing certain 2010 amendments to state tax laws. |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20101102/initiative-measure-1107-concerns-reversing-certain-2010-amendments-to-state-tax-laws.html |publisher=Washington Secretary of State · Elections Division |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref>

== Regulation and compliance ==
{{Main|Drinking water#Regulations}}
=== United States ===
The [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|US Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) regulates the allowable levels of some contaminants in [[public water system]]s.<ref name="EPA DW contaminants">{{cite web |author= |date=2019-09-17 |title=National Primary Drinking Water Regulations |url=https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> There may also be numerous contaminants in tap water that are not regulated by EPA and yet potentially harmful to human health. Community water systems—those systems that serve the same people throughout the year—must provide an annual "[[Consumer confidence report|Consumer Confidence Report]]" to customers. The report identifies contaminants, if any, in the water system and explains the potential health impacts.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2019-09-27 |title=CCR Information for Consumers |url=https://www.epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers |website=Consumer Confidence Reports |publisher=EPA}}</ref> After the [[Flint water crisis|Flint lead crisis]] (2014), researchers have paid special attention in studying quality trends in drinking water all across the US. Unsafe level of lead were found in tap water in different cities, such as Sebring, Ohio in August 2015, and Washington, DC, in 2001.<ref name=":1" /> Several studies show that a [[Safe Drinking Water Act]] (SDWA) health violation occurs in around 7-8% of community water system (CWS) in an average year.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Messner |first1=Michael |last2=Shaw |first2=Susan |last3=Regli |first3=Stig |last4=Rotert |first4=Ken |last5=Blank |first5=Valerie |last6=Soller |first6=Jeff |date=2006 |title=An approach for developing a national estimate of waterborne disease due to drinking water and a national estimate model application |journal=Journal of Water and Health |volume=4 |issue=Suppl 2 |pages=201–240 |doi=10.2166/wh.2006.024 |issn=1477-8920 |pmid=16895092 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Around 16 million cases of acute gastroenteritis occur each year in the US, due to the existence of contaminants in drinking water.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Allaire |first1=Maura |last2=Wu |first2=Haowei |last3=Lall |first3=Upmanu |date=2018-02-27 |title=National trends in drinking water quality violations |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=115 |issue=9 |pages=2078–2083 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1719805115 |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=5834717 |pmid=29440421 |bibcode=2018PNAS..115.2078A |doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[File:PFAS-Tapwater DetectionMap 1.png|thumb|This USGS map shows the number of PFAS detected in tap water samples from select sites across the US.]]
[[USGS]] has tested tap water from 716 locations across the United States, finding [[PFAS]] exceeding the EPA advisories in approximately 75% of samples from urban areas and in approximately 25% of rural areas.<ref>https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/tap-water-study-detects-pfas-forever-chemicals-across-us</ref>

Before a water supply system is constructed or modified, the designer and contractor are required to consult the local plumbing code and obtain a building permit prior to construction.<ref>''Uniform Plumbing Code'', IAPMO</ref><ref>''International Plumbing Code'', ICC</ref> Replacing an existing water heater may require a permit and inspection of the work. The US national standard for potable water piping guidelines is NSF/ANSI 61 certified materials. NSF/ANSI also sets standards for certifying polytanks, though the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) approves the materials.{{Relevance inline|date=May 2021}}

=== Japan ===
To improve water quality, Japan's Ministry of Health revised its water quality standards, which were implemented in April 2004.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Water Supply in Japan |url=https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health/water_supply/4.html |access-date=2021-11-18 |website=www.mhlw.go.jp}}</ref> Numerous professionals developed the drinking water standards.<ref name=":2" /> They also determined ways to manage the high quality water system. In 2008, improved regulations were conducted to improve the water quality and reduce the risk of water contamination.<ref name=":2" />

== See also ==
{{Portal|Water}}
{{div col}}
* {{annotated link|Automatic balancing valves}}
* {{annotated link|Bottled water}}
* {{annotated link|Drought}}
* {{annotated link|Fountain}}
* {{annotated link|Irrigation}}
* {{annotated link|Pipe support}}
* {{annotated link|Plumbing}}
* {{annotated link|Rain|Rainwater}}
* {{annotated link|Victaulic}}
* {{annotated link|Water fluoridation}}
* {{annotated link|Water supply}}
* {{annotated link|Water pipe}}
* {{annotated link|Water cycle}}
* {{annotated link|Walkerton Tragedy}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
* [[ASTM]] B75-02 Specification for Seamless Copper Tube
* [[ASTM]] B42-02e1 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Pipe, Standard Sizes
* [[ASTM]] B88-03 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube
* AWWA Research Foundation, Residential End Uses of Water, {{ISBN|1-58321-016-4}}, 1999
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080901200811/http://water.nationalacademies.org/ The Water Information Center] - An online resource for public water system basics and water management issues from the National Academy of Sciences.
* [http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watedrinkingwater.html US Environmental Protection Agency Drinking water page]
*[https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/index.html US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Water - Public Water Systems] - One-stop resource for information on public water systems supplying tap water including information on drinking water, fluoridation, water testing, water-related diseases and contaminants, etc., plus links to EPA, WHO, and other resources.
*[http://www.iccsafe.org/ the International Code Council]
*[http://www.astm.org/ the American Society for Testing and Materials]
*[http://www.ngwa.org/ the National Ground Water Association]
*[http://www.copper.org/ The Copper Development Association]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100206032601/http://www.priceofwater.com/municipal-summary.html 2008 Municipal Water Pricing Report(Canada)]
*[http://www.gizmology.net/pipe.htm Notes on Pipe]—Copper Pipe weights and max PSI

{{Plumbing}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tap Water}}
[[Category:Water]]
[[Category:Drinking water]]
[[Category:Water pollution]]
[[Category:Water supply infrastructure]]

Tap water - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article