What characterizes a wholesale water system?

A wholesale water system is characterized by its primary function of supplying treated water to other public water systems, rather than delivering water directly to consumers. This means that wholesale systems serve as a source or supplier of treated water to retail systems, which distribute the water to individual households and businesses.

In this context, the focus of a wholesale water system is on the provision of water as a commodity or bulk resource, rather than as a direct service to consumers. It plays a crucial role in the larger network of water management, ensuring that various public water systems receive the necessary treated water to meet local demand.

The other choices do not accurately describe a wholesale water system, as they focus on different aspects of water treatment and supply. For instance, a system that only treats wastewater does not pertain to potable water supply. Similarly, a system that provides drinking water directly to consumers is more representative of a retail water system, not a wholesale one. Finally, while there are systems that may use renewable resources, this characteristic is not defining of a wholesale water system.