A spring supply is a provision of piped mains water to a number of consumers direct from a natural spring

Spring (hydrosphere)

A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...

. The usual system of gathering water in a reservoir, treating and piping it to consumers is therefore not necessary. Water rates are not usually payable. The hamlet of Pinchinthorpe

Pinchinthorpe

Pinchinthorpe is a small hamlet near Guisborough in Redcar and Cleveland, England. It is a linear settlement spread along the A173. The postcode is TS14 8HE.Until 1951 Pinchinthorpe had a working railway station, on the line from Middlesbrough to Guisborough...

 in Teesside

Teesside

Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, for example, has such a system. Residents have no sewage network and must use septic tanks.