WATER DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM

Building
 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

 The system of distributing water efficiently to consumer is

called distribution system.
 After complete treatment of water, it becomes necessary to
distribute it to a number of houses, estates, industries and
public places by means of a network of distribution system
 The distribution system consists of pipes of various sizes,
valves, meters, pumps, distribution reservoirs, hydrants,
stand posts etc.
 It requires a large part of capital expenditure (about 60%).
Hence it requires economical planning.
REQUIREMENTS OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM:

i. It should convey the treated water up to the consumers with

the same degree of purity.
ii. The water should reach every consumer with the required
pressure head.
iii. Sufficient quantity of treated water should reach the
domestic and industrial use.
iv. The distribution system should be economical and easy to
maintain and open.
v. It should be able to transport sufficient quantity of water
during emergency situations such as fire-fighting.
v. It should be reliable so that even during breakdown or
repairs of one line water should reach that locality from
other line.
vi. During repair work, it should not cause obstruction to the
traffic.
vii. It should be safe against any future pollution. The pipe
lines as far as possible should not be laid below the sewer
lines.
viii.The quality of the pipes should be good and they should
not burst.
ix. Joints should be water-tight and the water losses due to
leakage should be minimized as far as possible.
 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
WATER WORKS
• RATE OF SUPPLY: To supply the required quantity of water to
meet the domestic and industrial demand at the rate which is needed.
• FIRE DEMAND: To meet the rate of fire demand in case of
conflagration.
• RELIABILITY OF SUPPLY: To make quantity of water available
for all purposes, all the time, in the distribution system.
• QUALITY OF WATER: the standard quality of water should not
be allowed to deteriorate.
• MAINTENANCE: The effective pressure and rate of supply should
be checked occasionally at various points of distribution system.
• EQUIPMENT USED: The various materials used and machinery
employed should be of good make.
CIRCULATION OF WATER: In no part of the system stagnation of water
should be allowed. A minimum number of dead ends should be
allowed.
SIMPLICITY IN LAYOUT: The entire system of distribution should be
designed in a simple and straightforward manner.

WATER DETECTION: Provisions should be made to detect the wastage

of water

SIZE OF PIPES: The pipes should be designed to carry 2.25 times the
average discharge.

EFFECTIVE PRESSURE: After overcoming the frictional loss,etc.there

must be enough residential pressure in pipe to raise the water to
required height in a building and to deliver the required quantity
even in the period of maximum demand.
 PRESSSURE IN THE DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM
• When the water enters in the distribution main, the water head
continuously is lost due to friction in pipes, at the entrance of
reducers, due to valves, bends, meters etc. till it reaches the
consumer’s tap.The net available head at the consumer’s tap is the
head at the entrance of the water main minus all the losses in the
way.
• The effective head available at the service connection to a building
is very important, because the height to which the water can rise in
the building will depend on this available head only. The greater
the head the more will be the height up to which it will rise.
• If adequate head is not available at the connection to the building,
the water will not reach the upper storeys(ie 2nd3rd 4th etc)To
overcome this difficulty the required effective head is maintained in
the street pipe lines.
• The water should reach each and every consumer therefore it
should reach on the uppermost storey.
The pressure which is required to be maintained in the
distribution system depends upon following factors:

• The distance of the locality from the service reservoir.

• The height of highest building up to which the water should
reach without boosting.
• The supply is to be metered or not. Higher pressure will be
required to compensate high loss of head in meters.
• How much pressure is required for fire hydrant.
• Funds available for the project.

In multi-storey structures the following pressure are considered

satisfactorily:
Upto 3 storeys – 2.1 kg/cm From 3 to 6 storeys – 2.1 to 4.2
kg/cm2
From 6 to 10 storeys – 4.2 to 5.27 kg/cm2
Above 10 storeys – 5.27 to 7 kg/cm2
 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• Depending upon the methods of distribution, the

distribution system is classified as follows:
(i) Gravity system
(ii) Pumping system
(iii) Dual system or combined gravity and pumping
system
 GRAVITY SYSTEM
• When some ground, sufficiently high above the city
area is available, this can be best utilized for the
distribution-system in maintaining pressure in water
pipes.
• This method is also much suitable when source of
supply such as lakes, river or impounding reservoir is of
sufficient height than city. The water flows in the mains
due to gravitational force.
• As less pumping is required, therefore it is the most
reliable system for the distribution of water
• The water will flow under gravitational force in the
treatment units and will be finally collected to the town
again under gravitational force.
GRAVITY SYSTEM
 PUMPING SYSTEM
• In this system water is directly pumped in the mains. Since the
pumps have to work at different rates in a day, the maintenance
cost increases.
• It is preferred to have number of pumps and only the required
numbers may work at various times to meet the varying
demand, in place of providing pump of variable speed. High
lift pumps are required and their operations are continuously
watched. If the power fails, the whole supply of the town will
be stopped.
• Therefore, it is better to have diesel pumps also in addition to
the electric pumps as a stand-by option.
• During fires, the water can be pumped in the required quantity
by the stand-by units also. But this system is not preferred than
other systems.
• The required pressure maintained in the pipe line is by direct
pumping
PUMPING SYSTEM
 DUAL SYSTEM
• This is also known as combined gravity and pumping system.
The pump is connected to the mains as well as to an elevated
reservoir.
• In the beginning when demand is small the water is stored in
the elevated reservoir, but when the demand increases the rate
of pumping the flow in the distribution system comes from
both the pumping station as well as elevated reservoir.
• As in the system water comes from two sources one from
reservoir and second from pumping station, it is call dual
system.
• This system is more reliable and economical.
• The water stored in the elevated reservoir meets the
requirements of demand during breakdown of pumps and for
fire fighting.
DUAL SYSTEM
 ADVANTAGES OF DUAL SYSTEM:

– The balance reserve in the storage reservoir will be

utilized during fire.
– The system is overall regarded as the best system. It is
economical, efficient and reliable.
– This system has the advantages that during power
failure, the balance water stored in the water tanks will
be supplied to the town.
– The pumps have to work at constant speed, without any
variation in their speeds. This increases the efficiency of
these pumps and reduces the wear and tear of the
pumps.
 LAYOUT OF DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM
• Depending upon their layout and direction of supply,
they are classified as follows:
• Dead end or tree system
• Grid Iron system
• Circular or Ring system
• Radial System
 Dead End or Tree System
• It is suitable for irregular developed township or
cities. In this system, one main starts from service
reservoir along the main road. Sub-mains are
connected to the main in both the directions along
other roads which meet the main pipe.
• In streets, lanes and other small roads which meet the
roads carrying sub-mains, branched and minor
distributors are laid and are connected to the sub-
mains. From these branches service connections are
made to individual house.
DEAD END SYSTEM
• THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF THE
SYSTEM ARE

• Cheap in initial cost and easy determination of

the pipe diameters, valves, size etc.
• The design calculation are simple.
• Easy to plan the layout.
• Easy to lay pipes.
• Can be used in irregularly developed cities.
• Can be extended when desired.
 DISADVANTAGES:
• Formation of dead ends can cause contamination
of water
• And if the pipe breaks down or is closed for
repair, the whole locality beyond the pipe goes
without water.
• Since the water is reaching at each point from one
side only, it cannot meet the fire demand, nor the
supply can be increased or diverted from other
points. The causes serious handicap and limits the
fire fighting capacity.
 GRID IRON SYSTEM
• The system is also knows as reticulated system and is
most convenient for towns having rectangular layout
of roads.
• All the dead ends are interconnected with each other
and water circulates freely throughout the system.
• Main line is laid along the main road. Sub-mains are
taken in both the directions along other minor roads
and streets.
• From these sub-mains branches are taken out and
inter-connected.
GRID IRON SYSTEM
 ADVANTAGE OF THIS SYSTEM:
• As water is supplied from both the sides to every point,
very small area will be affected during repair.
• Since the water reaches every point from more than one
route, the friction losses and the sizes of the pipes
reduces.
• All the dead ends are completely eliminated, therefore
the water remains in continuous flow and there is no
stagnation and chance of pollution is reduced to
minimum
• In case of fire, more quantity of water can be diverted
towards the effected area, by closing the valves of nearby
localities.
 DISADVANTAGES OF THIS SYSTEM:

• More number of valves and longer length of the

pipe is required in this system, thereby increasing in
the overall cost.
• If one section is to be repaired more number of
valves are required to close.
• The design is difficult and costlier, as the accurate
calculation of the discharged and pipes in various
lines is a tedious job, requiring the services of
computer and expert designers.
 CIRCULAR OR RING SYSTEM
 This system can be adopted only in well planned locality of cities.
 In this system, each locality is divided into square or circular blocks and
the water mains are laid around all the four sides of the square or round the
circle.
 The branches, sub-mains etc, are laid along the inner roads.
 All the sub mains and branches are taken off from the boundary mains and
are inter-connected. In this way every point receives its supply from two
directions.
 The system is the best of the other system but it requires many valves and
more pipe lengths. The design process of this system is relatively easier.
The ring system is more suitable for towns and cities having well planned
roads. The system is sometimes used as ‘looped feeder ‘ and is placed
centrally around a high demand area, along with the grid iron system.
 In such cases, it increases the capacity of the grid iron system and also
increases the water pressure at various points. The advantages and
disadvantages of this system are also the same as that of the grid-iron
system
CIRCULAR OR RING SYSTEM
 RADIAL SYSTEM
• For this system, the roads should be laid out radially from a
centre.
• This is reverse of ring system and water flows towards
outer periphery from one point.
• The entire district is divided into various zones and one
reservoir is provided for each zone, which is placed in the
centre of the zone.
• The water lines are laid radially from it.
• This system gives very quick and satisfactory water supply
and also the calculation of pipe sizes is very easy.
RADIAL SYSTEM
 CAUSES OF WASTAGE OF WATER

1. Leakage in the main joints, valves, and other fittings.

2. Leakage in the service connections under the control of
consumer.
3. Leakage in the cistern where the consumer stores his water.
4. Keeping the taps carelessly open, even during not using
them.
5. General mistaken idea that a flow of water on the whole,
cleans gutters etc.
 PREVENTION OF WASTAGE OF
WATER
1. Insisting the use of best fittings.
2. By occasional inspection of the same and maintaining the
same in good condition.
3. By installing meters in areas of large consumption and
charging a consumer by the quantity of water he uses.
4. District meters should be installed to study the
consumption of water from day to day.
5. It is argued that wastage can be minimized by intermittent
supply rather than continuous supply.
 APPURTENANCES IN WATER SUPPLY
The different devices required for controlling the flow of water,
fro preventing leakage and other purposes in water distribution
are called appurtenances

Valves have a crucial role in pipeline distribution system.

Depending on different situations and requirements different types
of valves are used. The important ones are as follows:-

1. Stop valve or sluice valve.

2. Check valve or reflux valve.
3. Air relief valve of float valve.
4. Pressure relief valve of safety valve.
5. Scour valve or blow-off valve.
6. Fire hydrant .
7. Plug valves.
 Stop valve or Sluice Valve
• Also known as gate valves and used
to control the flow of water through
pipes.
• Provided at street corners where
pipe line intersect.
• Two valves are placed at each
intersection.
• As large as a number of valves
should be provided as possible so
that when there is any breakdown
on a pipe line, the last length of the
same may be shut off and isolated
for repairs by closing the valve
which should be able to close down
slowly.
• If the supply is suddenly cut off, it
causes water hammer on all joint
fittings.
 Reflux Valves or Check Valves
• Allows the flow in one direction only and is sometimes used at the foot of
a long rising water main to prevent running back of water if pipe breaks
down in the lower reaches.
• Also provided on pipe lines leading off from the pumping station, to
prevent empty back of pumped water in case a pump breaks down or is
removed from repairs.
• Has a metallic disc resting against a projection in the casing and to which
a hinge is attached.
• When water flows in the direction, the disc goes up & allows the flow.
• In case the direction of flow is reversed, the disc falls down under its own
weight and shuts tightly against its bearing. A cap is provided at the top of
intersection.
 Air relief Valve or Float Valve
• In long pipe lines, air accumulates at high points of the line which
interferes with stream line flow of water.
• At such points air valves are provided which remove the accumulated air
automatically.
• This valve has one or two hollow floats inside float chamber.
• There are air opening at the top and the valves are connected to the main.
Float chamber normally remains full of water.
• When air fills it, the water level goes down and the float falls, thereby
opening the air opening at the top through which air escapes out, after
which the chamber again fills up with water and takes the float up which
closes the air openings.
 Pressure relief or Safety Valve
• It relieves high pressure in pipe lines and plumbing fixtures in building.
• It consists of disc controlled by a spring which can be adjusted for any
pressure.
• As the pressure in the pipe line exceeds, the disc is forced off its seat, and
the pressure is relieved through cross pipe.
• After this the disc again comes down automatically due to the spring.
 Scour out Valve or Wash out Valve
• It is placed at every depression in the pipeline.
• Mud and sludge get collected in the pipes at these depressions which
generally occur when pipes cross valleys etc.
• The valve is essentially mounted on a branch of the main pipe line at the
lowest point
• When the valve is worked, it removes the dirt due to high velocity of
water.
 Fire Hydrant
• Fire fighting requires water at much high pressure than that used for
domestic purposes because water is used to extinguish fire at a larger rate
and has to reach even upto the top of building.
• High pressure is generated by fire engines at the time of fire. The fire
engines are attached to fire hydrants which are connected to street mains
and water is taken through them in case of fires in the vicinity.
• Hydrants are placed on all streets at distances of 150 m to 300 m apart, as
well as at all street crossings and turnings.
• A fire hydrant has a 10cm connection for attaching it to fire engine and
6.25cm connection for hose outlet. Hose pipes carry the water to the
buildings , have a 2.75 cm smooth nozzle through which a stream of water
comes out under a pressure of atleast3kg/cm2.
• Available pressure at fire hydrants should preferably be:
• Water pumping engines- 0.75 to 1.2kg/cm2
• For direct flow from hydrants 3 to 5 kg/cm2
• Sometimes pressure upto 10 kg/cm2 are developed.
• Hydrants consists of a C.I.barrel with connection to the street main.
• It has a leather valve connected to valve stem which is turned by the
handle at the top.
• By working the handle, it can be opened and closed
• In the closed position the valve rest against the valve seat.
• The hydrant usually has two 6.25 cm hose outlets and one 10 cm pumper
outlet for attaching it to the fire engine.
• Hydrants may have up to 4
hose outlets, when they are
placed four ways.
• The outlets are spaced all
round the hydrant barrel.
• The hydrant is either partly or
wholly under-ground. Hydrants
are used to fill water carts.
 DISTRIBUTION RESERVOIRS
• These are also known as service reservoirs, and mainly provided for
storing the treated water , for supplying water to the town or city. These
reservoirs are also provided for meeting the water demand during fires,
breakdown of pumps, repairs etc.
The main functions of the storage and distribution reservoirs are:
• To store the treated water till it is distributed to the city.
• To absorb the hourly variation in the water demand and thus allowing the
treatment units and pumps to work at the average constant rate. This
reduces the running maintenance operation costs of the treatment units and
also improves their efficiency.
• To maintain the constant pressure in the distribution main.
• Distribution reservoirs lead to an overall economy by reducing the sizes
of pumps, pipe lines and treatment units.
• By providing distribution reservoirs, the pumping of water in shifts is
possible because treated water will continuously flow in these reservoirs.
 TYPES OF RESERVOIRS
The following are the most common types of reservoirs:
(i) Earth reservoirs
(ii) Masonry and R.C.C reservoirs
(iii) Elevated reservoirs

EARTH RESERVOIRS
• When large quantity of water is to be stored before the treatment, usually earth
reservoirs are provided because they are the cheapest.

• These reservoirs are constructed

by excavating to the required
depth below the ground
surface and using the
excavated material for building
of embankments to the necessary
height above the ground.
•The embankments of these reservoirs should have
minimum top width of 1.3 m or one fourth the total height.

•The embankments should be keyed down to the bottom by

removing roots, loose soil and permeable material.

•To prevent the leakage and loss of water, the sides and
bottom of the reservoirs should be properly lined with
bricks, stones, asphalts or concrete etc
.
• Outlet pipes should be provided in the embankments walls
at various places to minimize seepage of water.
 MASONRY AND R.C.C RESERVOIR
• These reservoirs are used for storing and distributing clear water.

• These are constructed on natural high grounds and are usually made
of stones, bricks or plain or reinforced cement concrete. The side
walls are designed to take up the pressure of the water, when
reservoir is full and the earth pressure when it is empty.

• The floors of these reservoirs are constructed with R.C.C slab or

square stone blocks.

• These reservoirs should be provided with R.C.C roofs resting on

columns. At the top of the roofs about 60cm thick earth layer is
deposited to protect the reservoir from cold and heat.

• For aeration of water and going inside for inspection, ventilation,

pipes and stairs are provided respectively.
UNDERGROUND MASONRY ND
RCC RESERVOIRS
 ELEVATED RESERVOIRS
• When sufficient high ground above the distribution area is not
available for the construction of ground reservoirs, from where
water can flow under gravitational force in the distribution
system, elevated reservoirs are constructed.

• The elevated reservoirs reduce the initial cost of pumps,

reduce the peak demands on the pumps and reduce the
maximum pressure required at the pumps discharge.

• Generally two types of elevated reservoirs are used:

(i) Stand pipes
(ii) Elevated tanks
STAND PIPES
STAND PIPE
These are usually made of
steel and are circular in plan.

The useful storage capacity of

these are the volume of tank
above the elevation of the
high point of distribution.

A stand pipe has an inlet,

outlet and drain pipe.

Manhole is provided at the

top with ladder for inspection
and repair work.
• ELEVATED TANKS
When water is to be distributed at very high pressure and the
use of the stand pipes becomes impracticable and
uneconomical, elevated tanks may be constructed with steel
or R.C.C.
Nowadays, R.C.C elevated tanks are very popular ,because
they have long life, require less maintenance and give decent
appearance in the locality.
All tanks are provided with inlet, outlet, drain pipe, overflow
pipe, water level indicator, manhole, ladder, ventilation pipe,
lightening conductor etc. These tanks can be used for storing
large quantity of water.
ELEVATED TANKS