Water Supply Systems-1

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
In large metropolitan areas, most of the drinking

water originates from a surface source such as lake,
stream, river, or reservoir. In rural areas most people
are likely to drink groundwater that was pumped
from a well.
Community Systems
Community water supply systems are public or private
entities that install and provide a central supply of
water to a neighborhood, city or special district.
Quite often water is drawn from more than one source
for example part of the water may be taken from a river
or reservoir, and it may be supplemented by deep
wells.
Before proceeding with the design of a water supply, the
following information should be obtained and evaluated.
What is the exact location of the water main (pipe) in
relation to the construction site.
If the main is on the other side of the street from the
construction site, what procedures must be followed to get
permission (in writing) to cut through the street, set up
barricades and patch the street?
What permits are required from the local authorities, how
much do the permits cost and who will inspect the work
and when?
If the water main does not run to the construction site, can
it be extended from its present location to the property?
Who pays for the extension? How long will it take?
Is there a charge to connect (tap) onto the community
system? Many communities charge a fee just to tap, and
charge is often high.
What is the water pressure in the main? Plumbing fixtures
are manufactured to operate efficiently with water
pressures from 30 to 60 psi (200 to 400 kPa). Pressure
outside this range may result in poor operation.
 A storage tank and pump may be required to raise the pressure if
the pressure is too low (below 30 psi or about 200 kPa for a
residence).
 Water pressure that is too high (above 80 psi or about 551 kPa for a
residence) will probably require a pressure reducing valve in the

system to decrease the pressure to an acceptable level.
 What is the cost of the water? After determining what the
charges are, a cost analysis may show that it is cheaper to
put in a private system.
Private Systems
Most private water is drawn from groundwater
through wells.
Installing a well is the most common used method of
obtaining a source of water . Springs may be used
when available. Most private water system use wells to
tap underground water source.
Experts (usually consulting mechanical engineers,
geological engineers, or water supply and treatment
specialists) should be consulted early in the planning
for any large project requiring its own private water
system.
Well Systems
A modern well consists of a well, a motor driven
pump, and a storage tank. In most systems the pump
draws water from the well where it is stored in a
storage tank.
Types of Wells
Wells are classified according to their depth and the
method used to construct the well.
Classification Depth Construction
Method
Shallow Less than 25 ft Dug, driven, and
(7.6m) in depth shallow bored
Deep 25ft (7.6m)or more Drilled and bored
in depth
The depth of the well is determined by the depth of the

water table and the amount of water that can be pumped
from that depth. Where a suitable water table is deep, it is
not unusual for a well to be 1000 ft (305m) or more deep.
Dug wells
Dug wells are shallow wells, generally not more than
25 ft (7.6m) deep, and typically 3 to 6 ft (1 to 2m) in
diameter. Typically made by excavating with a backhoe
or excavator but can be hand shoveled.
Dug Well
A dug well is lined with rock
masonry, cast concrete,
prefabricated concrete pipe,
ceramic material or another
substance.
To minimize the chances of
surface contamination, the well
should have a watertight top and
walls.
Because they are shallow, wells
are vulnerable to contamination
from surface pollution sources
such as cattle manure, fertilizer,
trash, and so forth. Surface
flooding from rivers and streams
can also carry pollutants into the
well . Hence dug wells are no
longer permitted to provide
potable water in developed areas.
They can be used for irrigation
and industrial applications.
Driven Wells
Also referred to as sand point wells, consists of lengths
of 11/4 to 2 in (32 to 50mm) diameter pipe that is driven
into the ground.
Driven Wells
In driving this type of well, a
sharp well point and drive cap
are attached to a pipe. An
impact loading device such as
a small pile driver is used to
drive the assembly into the
earth by striking the drive cap.
The drive cap allows the
assembly to be driven into the
earth without the pipe end
being damaged. The assembly
is driven into the ground until
the well point extends below
the water table.
The well point is a pointed
perforated pipe or a pipe with a
pointed well screen that allows
water to be sucked up the pipe
to the surface by a shallow well
pump.
Drilled/Bored Wells
Drilling or boring methods are used for deep wells. A
well-drilling rig is used to create the well hole. Drilled
wells have the holes formed by using rotary bits. Bored
wells have the holes formed by using an auger and
covered with a casing.
Drilled/Bored wells
Only drilling method is
effective in cutting through
hard rock. Drilled wells
typically have holes 200 feet or
more in depth. Shallow wells
may be drilled or bored if it is
necessary to pass through rock
to reach the water table.
The well shaft or borehole, is
lined with a solid pipe that
seals out contaminants and
stabilizes the hole.
Drilled wells typically have
holes 200ft or more in depth. A
submersible pump is dropped
into the well casing to pump
water up the well.

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WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

In large metropolitan areas, most of the drinking

residence) will probably require a pressure reducing valve in the

The depth of the well is determined by the depth of the

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