raw water

[raw waw-ter, wot-er]

noun

1. untreated, unfiltered water from the ground, lakes, rivers, etc.: raw water collected from springs has been bottled and marketed as the most natural, healthy drinking water, but there is concern among water testers and health officials over the potential presence of dangerous bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Word History and Origins

Origin of raw water¹

First recorded in 2000–05