This site is one way to learn about and share information about water systems and how they work. We include some information about their physical systems, how they are organized, and the economics of clean water. We also touch on the kinds of stresses placed on these systems, and how water systems and communities can be resilient in the face of these stressors. 

Why is this important?

The Appalachian mountains are blessed with abundant rain, yet many people struggle to get water they can afford for their homes and businesses. Wastewater treatment is often unattainable. Extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, cause devastation and are becoming more frequent and unpredictable. All across this country people are concerned about the growing cost of water and sewage infrastructure. At present, millions of people lack access to good water and safe sewage services. When aging infrastructures need expensive repair, will those most in need get new resources? 

Our country faces many water challenges, but, in diverse places, people are coming together to take action to solve these problems of too much or too little water. New coalitions are forming among communities, and between communities, nonprofit organizations, scholars, and government. Federal and state governments are offering new funds. 

As new money is dedicated to improve water infrastructure it is important that communities have a say in the design and implementation of plans. Communities have valuable, first hand knowledge to contribute. Local residents know local realities. Local residents also have a direct stake in fair and affordable outcomes. When communities are ‘at the table’ when decisions are being made, they can help to craft solutions that work in diverse local situations. They can help craft fair and equitable solutions for diverse stakeholders - especially those most vulnerable.

Who is this for?

All of the information here is shareable with anyone you think might want to learn more about their water systems: friends, family, community leaders—anyone in your community! 

Who created this toolkit?

This project was created by LiKEN, a nonprofit organization that focuses on connecting local knowledge with specialized expertise, in partnership with Rural Communities Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and Pacific Institute (PI). This project was funded by Pacific Institute.

How is the Toolkit set up? 

This Water Resilience Toolkit is designed to answer some common questions about water systems, the stressors put on them, and to provide some resources to get help when needed. 

There is a main menu on the upper left side of the site where you can navigate to the main topic sections. Once you are in a section, there are a series of questions with answers and links. In most cases, the links embedded in the document contain more detailed information about the topic. Sometimes the links will also be the source material for the information in that paragraph. Sources for the information in this toolkit are also available at the end of each section.

Water is an abundant resource on earth, and is always in flux. It falls from the sky in liquid form as rain, and as a solid when it's frozen as snow,  sleet, or hail.  Water vapor hovers above the earth as fog, clouds, and mist. It evaporates from bodies of water and the earth, but may also be stored in the earth as groundwater. It flows as rivers, seeks the lowest point, and seeps into crevices.

Visit this link to understand more about the water cycle, or access this printable pdf.

Water systems may be divided into three different types:

1. Drinking water systems, which deliver water to households, businesses, and industry, and may also be used in agriculture. 

2. Wastewater or sewage systems, which remove wastewater from homes, businesses and industry.

3. Storm water systems, which may be combined or separate from wastewater systems and removes storm water run off.

Depending on where you live, you may be served by one or more of these types of water systems, or you may have a private water source such as a well or spring. If you do not have access to a wastewater or sewage system, you may have a septic tank, gray-water system, composting toilet, or outhouse. Storm water systems are usually found in urban areas where rainwater is not easily absorbed by the earth.

Many different systems come together to deliver water clean enough to drink to households, businesses, and industry. A Public Water System, or Community Water System (1), has a physical plant, where water is collected, treated, stored, and pumped through pipes to households, businesses, and industry. A water system also needs an organization of people to create it and make it work, as well as an economic system which ties together water consumers, operators, government officials, and regulators, as well as a variety of funding agencies. Combined, these individual components make up a water system which delivers clean water. (1)

This toolkit contains more information about water systems, so read on! If you would like to learn more than we can fit in this toolkit and want to understand how water systems work, read The Non-operator’s Guide to Drinking Water Systems. 

Banner photo sourced from https://kids.kiddle.co/Image:Harlan,_Kentucky_2015.jpg, Author Afirebenside 

1. https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/information-about-public-water-systems#:~:text=EPA%20has%20defined%20three%20types%20of%20public%20water,which%20have%20their%20own%20water%20systems.%20More%20items