By Leah Hromalik
Have you ever wondered what happens to water before it comes out of your faucet? Every day, people in Syracuse use water to drink, cook, shower, clean, and complete hundreds of other tasks. However, the water does not simply appear in our homes. A large system works behind the scenes to make sure that the water we use is safe.
Syracuse is unusual because much of its drinking water comes from Skaneateles Lake, located southwest of the city. The lake is known for having very clean water, making it an important natural resource for Central New York. Water travels from the lake through pipes and eventually reaches homes, schools, businesses, and other buildings in Syracuse.
Even naturally clean water has to be carefully monitored. Water systems regularly test drinking water for bacteria, chemicals, and other substances that could affect human health. The water may also be treated to help prevent harmful microorganisms from growing while it travels through miles of pipes.
Maintaining good water quality requires people with many different STEM skills. Chemists can analyze water samples, engineers maintain pipes and treatment equipment, and environmental scientists study how pollution and other changes could affect the water supply. This means that the clean water coming from a faucet is actually the result of both nature and science working together.
