Not everyone gets water from a municipal supply. Nearly 15 million Americans use a well instead. Of course, in most cases, they don t have to let down a bucket. Gary S Chapman/Getty Images
Drinking water is such a basic aspect of daily life that many of us don t bother to consider the source. But water quality varies wildly across the United States and around the world, and that, in turn, can affect the quality of life.
Nearly 300 million Americans rely on public water sources. About 13 to 15 million, however, use private wells instead, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Many are in rural areas, where homes often can t tap into municipal water systems because it s simply too expensive to expand the infrastructure.