What is the function of a water main?

The function of a water main is to transport water from the treatment plant to the distribution system. Water mains are major pipelines that carry potable water, which has been treated to meet safety and health standards, directly to consumers. They are essential for providing a reliable water supply to communities and ensuring that treated water reaches homes, businesses, and other facilities efficiently.

This function is crucial because the distribution system relies on these mains to maintain water pressure and facilitate the flow of water throughout the network. Understanding the role of water mains helps clarify how the overall water supply system operates, ensuring that safe and clean drinking water is delivered to the end users.

Other choices describe different functions that are integral to water management but do not pertain to the primary role of water mains. For instance, draining stormwater, treating contaminated water, and distributing sewage are all critical operations in water resource management, but they fall outside the specific function of transporting treated water to distribution systems.