Water Distribution System

Water distribution systems are designed to

adequately satisfy the water requirements for a
combinations of the following demands:
• Domestic
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Fire-fighting

The system should be capable of meeting the

demands at all times and at satisfactory pressure

Water Distribution System

The main elements of the distribution system are:
• Pipe systems
• Pumping stations
• Storage facilities
• Fire hydrants
• House service connections
• Meters
• Other appurtenances

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 System Configurations
Distribution systems may be classified as:
• Branching systems
• Grid systems
• A combination of the above two systems
The configuration of the system is dictated by:
• Street patterns
• Topography
• Degree and type of development of the area
• Location of the treatment and storage works.

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 System Configurations
Branching vs. grid systems:
• A grid system is usually preferred over a branching
system, since it can furnish a supply to any point from at
least two directions
• The branching system has dead ends, therefore, does not
permit supply from more than one direction. Should be
avoided where possible.
• In locations where sharp changes in topography occur
(hilly or mountainous areas), it is common practice to
divide the distribution system into two or more service
areas.

Basic System Requirements

Pressure:
• Pressure should be great enough to adequately meet
consumer and fire-fighting needs.
• Pressure should not be excessive:
Cost consideration
Leakage and maintenance increase
Capacity:
• The capacity is determined on the bases of local water
needs plus fire-fighting demand.
• Pipe sizes should be selected to avoid high velocities:
Pipe sizes should selected based on flow velocity of 3-5 fps
Where fire-fighting is required, minimum pipe diameter is 6 in.

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 Hydraulic Design
The design flowrate is based on the maximum of the
following two rates:
• Maximum day demand plus fire demand
• Maximum hourly rate
Analysis of distribution system:
• Distribution system have series of pipes of different
diameters. In order to simplify the analysis, skeletonizing
is used.
• Skeletonizing is the replacement of a series of pipes of
varying diameters with one equivalent pipe or replacing a
system of pipes with one equivalent pipe.

Skeletonization

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 Hydraulic Design
Example:
Consider the piping system shown in the figure, replace (a) pipes
BC and CD with an equivalent 12-in. pipe and (b) the system
from B to D with an equivalent 20-in. pipe.
Solution:
• a) for pipes in series:
1. assume any value for Q through BCD (8 cfs)
2. from nomograph with Q = 8 cfs and dia = 18-in, read head
loss for BC = 6.1ft/1000ft
3. from nomograph with Q = 8 cfs and dia = 16-in, read head
loss for CD = 11ft/1000ft
4. total head loss BD = (6.1/1000)*200+(11/1000)*500 = 6.72ft

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200 ft - 18 in.
500 ft - 16 in.
C

B A D E
A

Z 900 ft - 12 in.

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 Nomograph for Hazen
Williams equation

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Hydraulic Design
5. the total head loss for 12-in equivalent pipe at 8 cfs is
45ft/1000ft (from nomograph)
6. head loss BCD = head loss BD, therefore;
6.72ft = Leq * (45/1000)
Leq = 6.72 * (1000/45) = 149 ft
• b) for pipes in parallel:
1. assume any value of head loss between BD (hL=5 ft)
2. for the equivalent pipe (L = 149 ft), head loss per 1000ft is;
hL = (5/149)*1000 = 33.5ft/1000ft
Diameter of equivalent pipe = 12-in
Qeq = 6.8 cfs (from nomograph)

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 Hydraulic Design
3. for the 900 ft 12-in pipe:
hL = (5/900)*1000 = 5.5ft/1000ft
Q900 = 2.6 cfs (from nomograph)
4. total flow = 6.9 + 2.6 = 9.4 cfs
5. for Q = 9.4 cfs and 20-in pipe:
head loss = 4.8ft/1000ft (nomograph)
6. head loss 12-in pipe = head loss 20-in pipe
5 ft = L * (4.8ft/1000ft)
L = 5 * (1000/4.8) = 1042 ft

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Hydraulic Design
Pipe networks:
• Pipe networks are composed of a number of constant-diameter
pipe sections containing pumps and fittings.
• From next figure, following are defined:
Node: end of each pipe section. (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H)
Junction node: points where pipes meet and where flow may be
introduces or withdrawn. (B, C, D, E, F, and G)
Fixed-grade nodes: points where constant grade is maintained. (A
and B)
Loops: closed pipe circuits. (1 and 2)
• From above terminology, we can write the following eq.
P=J+L+F–1
Where: P = # pipes, J = # Junction node, L = #loops,
F = # fixed-grade nodes
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 Pipe Network

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Hydraulic Design
Loop equations:
• Hydraulic performance of pipe networks are based
on mass continuity and energy conservation.
• Continuity of mass:
Qin - Qout = Qe (J number of equations)
Qin = inflow into node
Qout = outflow from node
Qe = external flow into the system or withdrawal
• Conservation of energy:
hL = Ep (L number of equations)
hL = head loss; Ep = pump head
For fixed-grade nodes, the following can be written:
E = hL - Ep (F-1 equations)

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 Hydraulic Design
Loop equations: (continue)
• Frictional losses in pipes:
hLP = KP Qn
Where;
KP = constant incorporating pipe size, its roughness, and units used
n = an exponent
The Hazen-Williams formula for head loss is given as:
hLP = KP Q1.85
• Minor losses:
These losses are due fittings, valves, meters, or other insertions that
affect the flow. They are expressed as:
hLM = KM Q2
Where;
KM = minor loss constant
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Hydraulic Design
Node equations:
• When considering nodes, the principle relationship used is the
continuity equation:
Qin - Qout = Qe
• The discharge in pipe ab can be expressed in terms of grade (head) as
the following:
hL = KQn
hLab = ha – hb = KabQn
Qe
Or Qab

Qab = {(ha-hb)/Kab}1/n a b

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