ABSTRACT
Cold water is supplied to a house for drinking, washing, cooking and the flushing of sanitary appliances. This chapter explains how cold water is supplied, stored and distributed. It discusses some of the principles of green technology in terms of the supply and use of water. The intermittent nature of the first water supply led to the practice of storing water in a cistern. A more efficient and widespread piped supply of water was a result of advances in technology which occurred in the 19th century. The ability to pump water by harnessing the power of steam was an important development. Following privatisation in 1988, water has been supplied to most buildings by a range of statutory undertakers, although some rural buildings receive water from a private well or other source regulated by the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009. Water is brought into a house from the water supplier’s pipe, which is probably situated under the road.
