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Since You Asked: What is municipal water? Sunday Dec 25, 2016 at 12:01 AM I've been reading about the Butte Falls couple's problems with their pond. What a crying shame. As I understand it, they want water officials to consider their pond as a municipal water source. What exactly does that mean? When I turn my tap on in Eagle Point, I'm assuming that's municipal water. — Jim S., Eagle Point Unless you're using a well, Jim, you're likely depending on a municipal water source. Municipal water, according to the Oregon Water Resources Department, is water that flows through a system of a municipal corporation, such as the Medford Water Commission, and the water has certain restrictions surrounding its use. The Water Resources Department lists a number of examples of municipal water uses that include, but are not limited to, domestic water use, irrigation of lawns and gardens, commercial water use, industrial water use, fire protection, irrigation and for use in park and recreation facilities, as well as street cleaning. A use that is not specifically allowed for municipal water use is hydroelectric power. Note the words "not limited to" in the above description. That means other uses could be open to interpretation by a water agency. As you mentioned, Sabrina and Jon Carey have a 2-acre pond and they are trying to get the Water Commission to declare it a municipal water source because it would be used for fire protection. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.