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Water supply systems
Two main types of water systems are used to supply homes: a well system, and a municipal (or city) water system. A
well system generally serves a single home, though it’s not uncommon for subdivisions in rural areas or small towns
to share a single well. A well uses a series of pipes, filters and a pump to pull water to the house(s), up from the water
table (also called an aquifer).

Municipal water systems supply water to homes en-masse, usually pulling from rivers and lakes and in some cases
storing it in large water towers which use gravity to maintain a consistent water pressure.
A third type of water system is found mainly in Canada’s northern communities where permafrost prevents digging
wells and running subterranean pipes. They’re often found in recreational or cottage properties where digging can
be difficult based on location. With this system, each home has a holding tank filled by municipal water trucks that
collect clean water from a nearby spring, lake or river.

Waste water systems

Of course, after the water coming into your home is used to drink, clean, wash, and heed the calls of nature, a separate
system is needed to remove and manage waste. Homes in cities and larger towns generally have a sewer system
connection, while small town and rural homes rely on a septic system to manage waste.
Like some recreational or remote locations turn to for supplying water, (separate) holding tanks are sometimes used
for waste, as well.
A sewer system collects all the waste water of the municipality and transports it to a water treatment facility to
remove any solid waste, treat the water, and safely release it back into the natural water cycle.

Suburban and rural homes have septic systems that use containment tanks with multiple compartments that separate
solids and oils. Water is then channeled to another compartment where bacteria breaks down the waste, then the
resulting byproduct can be safely drained into the ground.
This video created by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, gives a good overview of how septic
systems operate.

How each system affects you as a homeowner
When venturing into homeownership for the first time, there’s a seemingly endless list of new financial responsibilities.
Beyond ongoing mortgage payments and utilities, there are many maintenance items that require strategic planning
and budgeting to avoid unnecessary—and costly—surprises down the road.

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