The water that comes out of the tap in about 95% of the homes and businesses in Vilnius is extracted from underground aquifers that underlay the city. This water is extracted by wells at some 19 well fields or waterworks throughout the city (See Picture). At each of these waterworks there are between 4 and 27 separate wells. Currently, there are 268 active wells which on average yielded 152,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day to consumers in Vilnius. These wells penetrate anywhere from about 40 to 200 meters into the ground and tap into a variety of geologic formations. These geologic formations are porous and contain spaces. Within these spaces is where the water lies.

To extract the water, a hole is drilled into the rock and a steel or plastic casing is placed inside the hole. Then a pump is placed inside the casing to push the water up to the ground surface. Since after pumping the water level in the well will be lower than that in the surrounding substrate, the water will flow to the well to replenish it (See Picture).

This water will then often be treated at each of the waterworks to increase its suitability for consumption by people. Common processes often involve the addition of chlorine which disinfects the water from most bacteriological live forms that would prove dangerous for humans.

After treatment the water is pumped through an extensive network of distribution systems that lie underneath Vilnius. These distribution systems pump the water into your apartment or business where it comes out of the faucet, shower, or toilet.

Source: Vilniaus Miesto Vandenvieciu Eksploatacijos Ir Vandens Tiekimo Sistemos Optimizacija, Vilnius, 1998.

Fact Sheets/Faktu suvestines:

• Ið kur atbëga mûsø geriamas vanduo?
  Where does my drinking water come from?

• How safe is my drinking water
  Ar švarus mano geriamasis vanduo?

• Iron and Manganese in Drinking Water and its Removal
  Problemos, susijusios su geleþimi ir manganu geriamame vandenyje

• Glossary of drinking water terms
  Dazniausiai minimi klausimai apie geriamaji vandeni

Informacija apie geriamà vandená Vilniuje:
Vilnius Drinking Water Information:

• Vilniaus vandentiekio stoèiø þemëlapis
  [Map showing the location of Vilnius well fields]

• Pagrindinës þinios apie Vilniaus vandentiekio stoèiø ðulinius
  [Chart showing basic physical characteristics of Vilnius well fields]

• Informuojame apie prognozini pozeminio vandens poreiki Vilniaus miestui 2010-ais
  [Chart showing which well fields supply water to various districts in Vilnius]

• Vandens Sunaudojimas
  [Chart showing the Total Amounts of Water Consumed in Vilnius for years 1992-6]

• Kai kurie pozeminio vandens kokybes rodikliai - siurbiamo vandens kokybes formavimosi saltiniu indikatoriai Vilniaus vandenvietese (1997)
  [Basic indicators of water quality from Vilnius well fields for 1997]

• PVM taškai ir apimtys SP UAB Vilniaus vandenys vandenvietese, irengtose Vilniaus mieste
  [Chart Showing the Number of Monitoring Wells]

• Vilniaus miesto komunaliniai šuliniai
  [Chart Showing the Number and Location of Communal Wells]

• Vilniaus miesto gruntinio vandens chemines sudeties kiekybine statistine analize
  [Chart Showing Shallow Goundwater Quality]

• Chart Showing Recharge Information

• Chart showing detailed water quality data for Vilnius Well Fields [286 KB]

Daugiau informacijos apie geriamà ir poþeminá vandená:
Other Information about Drinking Water and Groundwater:

• See the extensive Groundwater Tutorial

• Paveikslas: Poþeminiai vandeningi horizontai
  [Picture: Groundwater Aquifers]

• Paveikslas: Vandens apykaitos ratas
  [Picture: The Hydrologic Cycle]

• Paveikslai: Fizikinës ðulinio charakteristikos
  [Picture: Well Cutaway View]

• Geriamo vandens normos naudojamos JAV
  [Sample Drinking Water Quality Standards and the health effects of these materials in drinking water]

• Visit this site for detailed information on the health effects of specific chemicals in drinking water http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/toxfaq.html