Difference between ground and surface water

Detroit is receiving surface water,Flint receives surface water,Ecorse receives surface water,and most other white cities receive ground waters,so whats the difference.BACKGROUND: Every day, the average American uses about 50 gallons of water for drinking, bathing,
cooking, and maintenance. Most people, however, are unaware of the source of their water. In the United
States, about 88 percent of the population is supplied by community water supply systems. The other 12
percent is supplied by non-community means, such as campgrounds, resorts, and private wells. Sixty-four
percent of public water systems use surface water as their source, the other 36 percent use groundwater from
wells. The aesthetic properties of the drinking water from these public systems is often affected by the
source of the water. Ground water often has a slightly metallic taste, and may contain high amounts of
minerals. Surface waters, on the other hand, usually have a musty taste and look cloudy. Treatment
techniques aim to produce a water that is: safe for human consumption; appealing and good tasting to the
consumer; and conforms with applicable State and Federal regulations at the lowest possible cost.