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

The Sierra Nevada snowpack provides around a third of the state’s water supply, its spring and summer runoff refilling reservoirs when the state needs the water most.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Fuel rationing has shortened queues, but on Thursday, the government began limiting water supply hours to conserve reserves and save pumping costs.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Democrats largely concurred on issues such as reducing regulations and increasing water supply to farmers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

He studied water supply and sewerage engineering at Zhengzhou University in central China.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The water supply had almost completely disappeared; what was left was covered with dust and dirt.

From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat

Related Words

• water system
• waterworks