DISTRIBUTION OF WATER

GENERAL INTRODUCTION
• After treatment, water is to be stored temporarily and
supplied to the consumers through the network of
pipelines called distribution system.
• The distribution system also includes pipelines,
valves, hydrants, meters, service connections, pumps,
reservoirs, instruments for measurement of pressures,
flow leak detectors etc.
• The cost of distribution is about 40 to 70% of the
total cost of the entire scheme.
• The efficiency of the system depends upon proper
planning, execution and maintenance.
REQUIREMENT OF A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
1. Should be capable of supplying water with a
sufficient pressure head
2. Should convey the treated water up to consumers
with the same degree of purity
3. The system should be economical and easy to
maintain and operate
4. The diameter of pipes should be designed to meet
the fire demand
5. It should safe against any future pollution.
Conti….

7. The system should be so designed that the supply

should meet maximum hourly demand.
8. As far as possible should not be laid below sewer
lines.
9. Water should be supplied without interruption
(pause) even when repairs are undertaken
10. It should be safe as not to cause the failure of
pipelines
11. It should be water tight, as to keep the leakages
minimum
Long-term Planning
Pressure
 LAYOUTS OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1. Dead End or Tree system

2. Grid Iron system
3. Circular or Ring system
4. Radial system
 DEAD END OR TREE SYSTEM

This system is suitable for

irregular developed towns or
cities.

In this system water flows in

one direction only into sub
mains and branches.

The diameter of pipe

decreases at every tree
branch.
Dead End System
ADVANTAGES

1. Discharge and pressure at any point in the distribution

system is calculated easily
2. The valves required in this system of layout are
comparatively less in number.
3. The diameter of pipes used are smaller and hence the
system is cheap and economical
4. The laying of water pipes is used are simple
5. Shorter length of pipe needed
DISADVANTAGES

1. There is stagnant water at dead ends of pipes

causing contamination.

2. During repairs of pipes or valves at any point the

entire down stream end are deprived(Poor) of supply

3. The water available for fire fighting will be limited

in quantity
 GRID IRON SYSTEM

• Mains, sub-mains and

branches are all inter
connected with each
other

• Suitable in well planned

town and cities
ADVANTAGES
1. Every point receives supply from two directions and with
higher pressure
2. Discharge to be carried by the pipe, friction loss, size of the
pipe reduces
3. Additional water from the other branches are available for fire
fighting
4. There is free circulation of water and hence it is not liable for
pollution due to stagnation
5. In case of repair, very small area is diploid of complete supply
DISADVANTAGES

1. More length of pipes and number of valves are

needed and hence there is increased cost of
construction

2. Calculation of sizes of pipes and working out

pressures at various points in the distribution system
is laborious , complicated and difficult.
 CIRCULAR OR RING SYSTEM
• Supply to the inner
pipes is from the mains
laid around the
boundary.
• It has the same
advantages as the grid-
Iron system.
• Smaller diameter pipes
are needed.
• The advantages and
disadvantages are same
as that of grid-Iron
system
 RADIAL SYSTEM
• This is a zoned system. Water is
pumped to the distribution
reservoirs and from the
reservoirs it flows by gravity to
the tree system of pipes.

• The pressure calculations are

easy in this system. Layout of
roads need to be radial to
eliminate loss of head in bends.

• This is most economical system

also if combined pumping and
gravity flow is adopted.
 SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION:

• For efficient distribution it is required that the water

should reach to every consumer with required rate of
flow. Therefore, some pressure in pipeline is
necessary, which should force the water to reach at
every place.

• Depending upon the methods of distribution, the

distribution system is classified as the follows
Conti…..

1. Gravity system

2. Pumping system

3. Dual system or combined gravity and

pumping system
 GRAVITY SYSTEM
• The water from the high levelled source is distributed
to the consumer at lower levels by mere action of
gravity without any pumping.
• This method is also much suitable when the source of
supply such as lake, river or impounding reservoir is
at sufficiently higher than city.
• As no pumping is required therefore it is the most
reliable system for the distribution of water.
Gravity System
 PUMPING SYSTEM

• The treated water is directly pumped in to the

distribution mains without storing it anywhere.
• Constant pressure can be maintained
• Supply can be effected during power failure and
breakdown of pumps. Hence diesel pumps also in
addition to electrical pumps as stand by
Pumping System
 COMBINED PUMPING AND GRAVITY SYSTEM

• The treated water is pumped at a constant rate and stored

into an elevated distribution reservoir, from where it is
distributed to the consumer under the action of gravity
• As in this system water comes from two sources one from
reservoir and second from pumping station, it is called dual
system
Conti…

• This system is more reliable and economical, because

it requires uniform rate of pumping but meets low as
well as maximum demand.
• The water stored in the elevated reservoir meets the
requirements of demand during breakdown of pumps

and for fire fighting.

Dual System of Distribution
 System of supply

1. CONTINUOUS SYSTEM
2. INTERMITTENT SYSTEM
 CONTINUOUS SYSTEM

• This is the best system and water is supplied for all

24 hours.
• In this system less diameter of pipes are required and
rusting of pipes will be less. Losses will be more if
there are leakages in the system
 INTERMITTENT SYSTEM

• If plenty of water is not available, the supply of water

is divided into zones and each zone is supplied with
water for fixed hours in a day or on alternate days.
• As the water is supplied after intervals, it is called
intermittent system. The system has following
disadvantages
 DISADVANTAGES

1. Pipelines are likely to rust faster due to alternate wetting

and drying. This increases the maintenance cost.

2. There is also pollution of water by ingress of polluted

water through leaks during non-flow periods.

3. More wastage of water due to the tendency of the people

to store more water than required quantity and to waste
the excess to collect fresh water each time.
Conti…
• Large diameter pipes
• Inconvenience to the consumer
• Number of valves required is more
• In spite of number of disadvantages, this system is
usually adopted in most of the cities and towns of
India.
• The repair work can be easily done in the non-supply
hours.
 PIPES AND REQUIREMENTS

• Pipes convey raw water from the source to the

treatment plants in the distribution system.

• Water is under pressure always and hence the pipe

material and the fixture should withstand stresses due
to the internal pressure, vacuum pressure- when the
pipes are empty, water hammer- when the valves are
closed and temperature stresses.
 REQUIREMENTS OF PIPE MATERIAL

1. It should be capable of with standing internal and

external pressures
2. It should have facility of easy joints
3. It should be durable
4. It should not react with water to alter its quality
5. Cost of pipes should be less
6. Frictional head loss should be minimum
7. The damaged units should be replaced easily.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PIPES

1. Cast Iron
2. Steel
3. Prestressed concrete
4. R.C.C
5. A.C. Pipes
6. Galvanised Iron (G.I)
7. P.V.C and plastic pipes
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PIPES
CAST IRON PIPES
Steel pipes
Steel pipes
Steel pipes
Prestressed concrete pipes
Prestressed concrete pipes
Prestressed concrete pipes
Prestressed concrete pipes
R.C.C pipes
R.C.C pipes
R.C.C pipes
A.C. Pipes- asbestos cement
Galvanised Iron (G.I) pipe
PVC pipe
P.V.C and plastic pipes
 LEAKAGE AND WASTAGE OF WATER

• Water lost – leakage and unauthorized

connection
• Factors effecting losses and waste
1. Water tight joints
2. Pressure in distribution system
3. System of supply
4. Metering
5. Unauthorized connection
 DETECTION OF LEAKAGE IN THE
DISTRIBUTION PIPES

• Direct observation
• Using sounding rod
• Plotting hydraulic gradient line
• Waste detecting meters
1. Direct observation
2. Using sounding rod
• Preferably done in the
night hours
3. Plotting hydraulic gradient line
• Pressure at various point is calculated and the
hydraulic gradient line is plotted.
• Change in the slope of HGL- leakage confirmed
4. Waste detecting meter
• Shutting of all the valves except the head of
the chosen locality
• meter placed at that head of the main supply
point
• Portion of this area is progressively cut – drop
shown in the meter
• Shutoff that indicate large and
disproportionate drop – indicate leakage
 MAINTENANCE OF PIPES
1. Detection of leaks in faulty joints connections,
pipes and fittings inside the consumer premises,

2. Detection of corrosion in pipes, fractures and

replacement of these portions.

3. The wastage of water 15 to 25% of leakage through

pipe joints should be brought down to the minimum
possible extent by adopting suitable preventive
measures
Conti…

4.Cleaning of pipes by flushing and disinfection of

pipes
5. Protection against pollution
6.The records of regarding the lengths of pipe laid,
length of pipe repaired or replaced, expenditure
incurred, no. of fire hydrants , no. of service
connections and all other relevant data in connection
with the distribution system should maintained for
ready reference.
 PIPE CORROSION – CAUSES AND
PREVENTION
• When water flows through a metal pipe, it attacks and
disintegrates the surface of the pipe.

• Thus the material of the pipe thus gets dissolved and

rusted.

• This phenomenon which leads to the progressive

disintegration is known as corrosion.
• It may occur due to electrolysis
• Due to stray electric currents
• Also, when 2 dissimilar metals are immersed in
water(electrolyte), electric potential is
developed and electric current will start flowing
between the metal.
• The metal which lies high in electrochemical
series(anode) will get dissolved and starts
depositing on the metal which lies low in
electrochemical series(cathode).
 PREVENTION OF PIPE CORROSION

1. Protective Linings
2. Proper pipe material
3. Treatment of water
4. Cathodic protection: By connecting the pipe line to the
negative terminal of D.C. generator and connecting its
positive terminal with zinc or magnesium. This ensures
flow of electric current from Zn or Mg block towards the
pipe.
This cathodic treatment is most effective. It is expensive
and involves many practical problems
Conti….
3. 4. Cathodic protection: By connecting the pipe line
to the negative terminal of D.C. generator and
connecting its positive terminal with zinc or
magnesium. This ensures flow of electric current
from Zn or Mg block towards the pipe.
This cathodic treatment is most effective. It is expensive
and involves many practical problems