Which term describes water that is not drinking water, including lakes or rivers, well water, and rainwater, etc.?

Prepare for the American Water Works Water Treatment Plant Operator Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Raw water is the water that has not been treated yet to become drinking water. The primary source refers to the main supply of this raw water coming into the treatment plant, which can come from lakes or rivers, wells (groundwater), or collected rainwater. So the idea described—water that isn’t drinking water and includes various origins before treatment—fits the primary source because it’s the plant’s main input before any purification. An auxiliary source is only a supplemental supply used when the primary source isn’t enough, and groundwater is just one type of raw water rather than the general term for all non-potable input. The primary source best matches the concept of the main pretreated input.