water supply

American  

noun

1. the supply of purified water available to a community.

2. the facilities for storing and supplying this water, as reservoirs and pipelines.

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water supply British  

noun

1. an arrangement of reservoirs, purification plant, distribution pipes, etc, for providing water to a community

2. the supply of treated and purified water for a community

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Other Word Forms

• water-supply adjective

Etymology

Origin of water supply

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Still, California is enduring its second-worst snow drought in 50 years, which experts say is a sign of how rising temperatures from climate change are worsening the West’s long-term water supply problems.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

Retrofitting the warehouse for immigration detention would create construction sediment that would run into nearby waterways, Maryland’s lawsuit argued, and housing hundreds of people there would strain the water supply and create sewage overflows.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026

Other dredging programs could also dramatically increase California’s water supply.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"Sure, AI data centres consume massive amounts of energy, contribute to air pollution, and drain the water supply from local communities," Forcino said.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

In the kitchen, I show them the stainless steel drum that holds our primary water supply.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• water system
• waterworks