This article presents a reflection about the processes of water treatment for the supply and the human  consumption, which not only have a technical component, but also influence in all the social, economic, environmental. The main objective is to recognize the most important techniques and methods for the treatment of water for human consumption and supply. Since water is a natural element vital to the sustenance of all life on planet earth, it has multiple uses both in the biological processes and in the different utilities that the human being gives to it, for it have been designed different utilities and systems Of valuation of this resource. These water treatment processes for the supply are generally a sequence of operations or unit processes, suitably selected in order to completely remove the microbiological contaminants present in the raw water and partly the physical and chemical ones, to the acceptable limits stipulated by the rules. Finally, an analysis and discussion of the water problem is made, articulating social, economic, technical,cultural, ecological, political and legislative factors.