water supply
- noun
- /ˈwɔːtər səˈplaɪ/
- During the drought, the local government worked hard to maintain a consistent water supply for residents.
- water supply system
- public water supply
- drinking water supply
And because because they now had a water supply, they had a road.
- And because because they now had a water supply, they had a road.
- Now, BPA is found in our water supply.
- So we turned off the, the main's cold water supply.
- Is it what they're putting in our water supply?
- I view it as mandatory to have at least two weeks of backup water supply.
- There are large tanks on site and the site would be connected to municipal water supplies.
- And now the runoff of the mining from the Denay land has contaminated all of their water supply.
- And, and then in the late spring summer when it's hotter or drier, you need more irrigation, but you don't have the water supply for the irrigation.
- It is the largest contaminant in our national water supply and that's where we're at the history of this country.
- It's in all of our food supply, all of our water supply, all over the world that causes fat cells to grow before you're born.
Examples
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The ongoing six-year drought in the state has highlighted the grim water supply situation in Southern California.
Academic text (1992) -
And how does one mix formula if the water supply is bad?
Academic text (2008) -
You got a fresh water supply.
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This river is the main water supply for many villages.
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You told me we had an adequate water supply.
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Their water supply is dried up.
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It's a vast water supply and used to a great extent to fuel the agriculture industry in this part of the country.
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With so many refugees in Hong Kong, the water supply is very critical.
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With its population outgrowing its water supply, Pakistan too may soon turn to world markets for grain.
Academic text (2008) -
The intake for a public drinking water supply was approximately 200 meters offshore from the creek outlet.
Academic text (2008)
Synonyms
A supply of water for a town, building, or home
A set of pipes and buildings that collect, clean, and send water to homes
A place or system that collects, cleans, and supplies water to people
How Abundant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a system or source that provides water' is directly and compositionally built from 'water' (the substance) + 'supply' (system/process of providing), so the overall sense is predictable from the parts. This simple noun–noun composition is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English noun combination patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand it.
Etymology
The phrase water supply comes from the simple image of water being brought to homes through a well, pipes, or tanks, and the word supply means 'to give' or 'to provide'. That's why water supply refers to the system or source that gives water for drinking, washing, and other uses.