Crossword Genius

District water suppliers? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lakes

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'district water suppliers?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'water suppliers?' is the wordplay.
'water' becomes 'lake' (lake is a kind of water).
'suppliers?' becomes 's' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'lake'+'s'='LAKES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lakes that I've seen before include "Enclosed areas of water" , "Large bodies of water surrounded by land" , "Bodies of (usually fresh) water" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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