Cold Water

• Source
• Storage
• Treatment
• Distribution
• Supply & storage in dwellings
• Types of systems
• Installation, components & calculations
• Regulations & British Standards
 Cold Water Module Timescale
• Three weeks learning

• One week revision and exam

• Four weeks total

• (this will include some project work to be

done outside the class)
 Week 1
• What’s the objective?
• Water sources
• Water characteristics
• Water storage and treatment
• Water distribution`
 The objective
• What are the reasons for learning about
the various areas of a cold water system?

• In groups list what you know about the

cold water supply system from collection
through to draw off at the tap
• Then decide the basic goal/reason for
having this knowledge
 The objective
• The supply of fresh wholesome cold water
to people’s homes is a basic human need.

• As a plumber, it is your job to get the water

to the taps so that it is clean and fit for
human consumption

• Otherwise severe illness can occur.

 Who is responsible?
• Water supplier

• Plumber

• Anyone who works on any part the system

Classification of water type
 Water hardness
The measurement of the hardness of water is shown as parts per million or
alternatively milligrams per litre. This is how hardness is classified:
 Where does water come from?

• Water evaporates from the sea, rivers, lakes and the soil. It forms
clouds containing water vapour, which eventually condenses and
falls as rain. When it hits the ground, some of the rainwater runs into
streams, rivers and lakes, some soaks into the ground, where it will
collect temporarily and evaporate, or it will soak away and form
natural springs or pockets of water to be accessed by wells.
• Water companies, for example Severn Trent, Thames Water, etc.,
obtain their water for public consumption from two main sources:
• surface sources, such as:
• upland surface water
• rivers and streams
• underground sources, such as:
• wells
• artesian wells
• springs.
 Upland surface water

• This category covers impounding reservoirs, lakes and natural

reservoirs.
• This source of water is mostly found in the northern part of the UK,
as the landscape there is hilly or mountainous, allowing lakes to
form naturally, or the damming of streams to form impounding
reservoirs.
• The water quality from this source is good because it is generally
free from human or animal contamination.
• It is usually classified as soft as it runs directly off the ground
surface and into the water source, so it is not affected by passing
through a particular soil type.
• Where water comes into contact with peat, it can become acidic.
 Artificial reservoirs

• Artificial reservoirs are constructed to meet an

ever-increasing demand for water in both
domestic and industrial sectors.
• They are also used in areas where insufficient
natural resources exist.
• Reservoirs are created by flooding low-lying
areas of land, normally by damming a water
course. The water is classified as soft.
 Rivers and streams

• The quality of water from rivers varies depending on the

location.
• Water from moor land rivers and streams tends to be
relatively wholesome compared to further downstream,
where it could become polluted by natural drainage
from farmyards, road surfaces and industrial waste.
• The quality of river water varies in hardness depending
on the nature of the ground where it originated.
• Water from upland river sources is generally soft
compared with that of the lower reaches, which is usually
hard.
Water Sources
 Underground sources
There are two types of wells, shallow and deep. Surprisingly, this classification
does not necessarily refer to the actual depth of the well, but whether it
penetrates the first impervious stratum of the earth.

Shallow well does not penetrate Deep well penetrates through

impervious strata. impervious strata.
 Artesian wells

An artesian well penetrates the impervious stratum and enters a lower porous zone
containing water. The outlet of the well is situated below the water table, so the
water is forced out by gravity through the mouth of the well.
 Springs

• The quality of spring water varies

depending upon the route that the water
has taken from underground to the
surface.
• If it has travelled for a long distance
through rock formations, it will probably be
free from contamination, but it is likely to
be hard.
 Summary of water source classification

The table above summarises the various water sources and their level of
contamination before treatment.
 Water storage
• Water is stored by water companies either in its
untreated state in impounding reservoirs or
lakes, or as wholesome water in service
reservoirs.
• It is worth noting that water companies usually
aim to store enough drinking water in their
service reservoirs, for emergencies, to maintain
supply for about 24 hours.
• This safeguards against failure of pumps or
mains and allows time to repair any faults before
supplies run out.
 Water treatment

• It is the responsibility of the water companies to

ensure water is fit to drink.
• All water must be treated before it is put into the
supply system.
• How it is treated will depend on its source and
what impurities it contains.
• Some impurities are actually essential to our
health and will be retained; others are harmful
and must be removed during the treatment
process.
 Deep wells and bore holes

• The quality of water from this source is

already quite good, due to the natural
filtering process as the water passes
through the rock strata.
• In this case, the only treatment needed is
sterilisation.
• Sterilisation serves to keep both the water
and supply pipe work free from bacteria as
the water is piped to our homes.
Basic overview of cold water supply

Could be River/Reservoir
 Water mains
• Water mains are constructed of four
different types of material:

• asbestos cement.
• Steel.
• P.V.C.
• cast iron.
 Water mains
• How do we tap into an exsisiting main?
Section through a mains tapping machine

New connections to existing mains,

connecting under pressure,
require the use of specialist
equipment.

The illustration shows an

example of a connection
to a cast iron main.
Plan view of connection to water main

main
ferrule

Gooseneck allows for

ground movement
(rigid pipes only)
 Advantages of Under-Pressure Tapping

• No inconvenience to customers
• Quicker to do
• Not as expensive
• Less risk of contamination
• No water wastage
Section through a brass ferrule
 Supply pipework to the building

A plumber’s work usually starts from the boundary of the highway.

PVC stop valve chamber External water meter
without meter installation
Installation of water meters
 Water Regulations – Purpose of
• To prevent

• Waste
• Misuse
• Undue consumption
• Contamination
• Erroneous measurement

• of water supplied by an undertaker (e.g.

Severn Trent)
 Water Regulations
• Give examples of

• Waste
• Misuse
• Undue consumption
• Contamination
• Erroneous measurement
 BS 6700 – Specification for the design,
installation, testing and maintenance of
services supplying water for domestic
use within buildings and their curtilages

• purpose

• to give technical guidance on the design,

installation, testing, commissioning, and
maintenance of systems
 What is the difference between
regulations and codes of
practice?
• Regulations are law and must be followed

• A Code of Practice is for guidance

• However,
• By following the recommendations of a Code of
Practice you will most certainly meet the
requirements of the regulations
 System pressure and flow rate

• The incoming water pressure and flow rate

supplied via the main is vital as it has a
key bearing on:
• The size of pipe work and fittings used in
the system.
• The type of system
• You may be required to assist in taking
readings of incoming water pressure and
flow rate as part of the installation process.
Pressure and flow, why bother?
 Pressure and flow, why bother?
• A common fault with domestic systems installation is that
water pressure readings are not taken at the right stage in
the job – that is at the design or pricing stage.
• Insufficient supply pressure and flow rate can result in big
problems: for example,
• if the wrong system components, such as combination
boilers, showers or unvented cylinders are installed, they
will not work correctly, or at all.
• If the pressure to an existing dwelling is poor, check first
that there is no burst on the service from the external stop
tap. You can usually tell by putting your ear against the
stop tap key while it is on the stop tap and listening for a
hissing noise.
 Use of water conditioners
• One way to prevent damage to water systems by hard
water is to install a water conditioner in the cold water
supply.
• This has the effect of softening the water prior to it
being heated, and so reduces scale formation.

• There are three main ways to treat water hardness:

• base exchange softeners

• scale reducers
• magnetic water conditioners.
 Base exchange softener
These work by passing the hard
water through a tank containing
resin particles.
The resin attracts and absorbs the
hardness salts – mainly calcium
and magnesium– from the water.
At the same time it replaces them
with sodium from the resins.
After a while, the resin becomes
saturated with hardness salts and
needs to be regenerated, using salt
solution to put sodium back into the
resin.
The hardness salts are released
from the resin and washed down
the drain.
 CHEMICAL SCALE REDUCTION
• POLYPHOSPHATE SALTS
DISPENSER
• Tackle scale with the same
technology as high-priced water
softeners.
• It dispenses polyphosphate salts
into the incoming water supply, holds
lime scale in suspension, preventing
it from causing lime scale build-up.
• Replace cartridges (typically 6 to 12
months).
Costs about £15 per year to run.
 Scale reducers

Your Combimate scale reducer deters the

formation of scale and reduces corrosion in the hot
water system and appliances by adding minute
quantities of Siliphos to the cold water supply.
Siliphos is a harmless ‘food grade’ polyphosphate
compound which stabilises the hardness minerals
in the water supply keeping them in suspension.
Rather than forming a scale deposit when the
water is heated the minerals pass through the
system.
 Water conditioners

• Electronic Scale Reducer

• Simple installation for whole house
protection. Suitable for pipework up
to 35mm.
• Features and Benefits
• Compact design
• Can be installed in minutes
• Complete kit in one box
• Suitable for copper and plastic pipes
• No need to disrupt water supply
Magnetic Scale Reducer

• Single appliance or whole

house protection. Suitable
for combi boilers, hot water
heaters, electric showers
and immersion heaters.
• Features and Benefits
• 2 popular sizes
• Reliable compression
fittings
• Compact for easy 'in-line'
installation
 Types of cold-water system

• There are two types of cold-water system:

• Direct.

• Indirect.
 Direct system
• In a direct system:

• All the pipes to the draw-off points (sink,

bath, hand basin, WC, etc.) are taken
directly from the rising main or service
pipe, and operate under mains pressure.
 The direct cold-water system

The direct system is the most commonly

Installed type of cold water system in
domestic properties because its installation
is cost effective and there is usually
relatively high pressure of supply available.

The installation of direct systems is only

permitted by water companies in domestic
properties in medium to high pressure areas
where the supply can provide adequate
quantities of water at sufficient pressure to
meet the building’s needs.
• The advantages of a direct system are that it is:
• cheaper to install because less pipework is required
• the storage cistern is smaller (110 litre minimum)
• drinking water is available from all draw-off points
• less risk of frost damage due to a smaller amount of
pipework
• less structural support required for smaller cistern.

• However, there are disadvantages:

• higher pressure may make the system noisy
• there is no reserve of cold water if the mains or service
supply is shut off
• more wear and tear on taps and valves due to high
pressure
• higher demand on the main at peak periods.
 Indirect system
• In an indirect system, one point – usually
the kitchen sink – is fed directly from the
rising main, which then supplies the cold
water storage cistern.

• The remaining draw-off points are fed from

the cold water storage cistern – hence the
term indirect.
The indirect cold-water system
 Inside the property
• Main Components

• Standards

• Regulations
BS6700 p27
Inside the property

The purpose of the stop and drain valve is

to:
• turn on/off the water supply to pipe work
fittings and components to enable system
maintenance
• drain down all the system pipe work
fittings and components to enable system
pipe work repair/replacement.

Pipe size and material?

What’s missing?
STOP VALVE

Crutch head

Rising spindle
Packing gland nut
packing
Head gear

jumper Valve body

washer

Fitted on mains cold water entry point to premises

BS6700
 Water Regs
• SECTION 4
Schedule 2: Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13: Water system design and
installation
• 8 No water fitting shall be installed in such a position, or pass through such
surroundings, that it is likely to cause contamination or damage to the material of the
fitting or the contamination of water supplied by the water undertaker.
• 9 Any pipe supplying cold water for domestic purposes to any tap shall be so installed
that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the water is not warmed above 25°C.
• 10 (1) Every supply pipe or distributing pipe providing water to separate premises
shall be fitted with a stop valve conveniently located to enable the supply to those
premises to be shut off without shutting off the supply to any other premises.
(2) Where a supply pipe or distributing pipe provides water in common to two or more
premises, it shall be fitted with a stop valve to which each occupier of those premises
has access.
• 11 Water supply systems shall be capable of being drained down and be fitted with
an adequate number of servicing valves and drain taps so as to minimize the
discharge of water when water fittings are maintained or replaced. A sufficient
number of stop valves shall be installed for isolating parts of the pipework.
Storage cistern
 ‘Jargon’
• A Cistern is – a fixed container for holding
water at atmospheric pressure
• Storage Cistern – means a cistern for
storing water for subsequent use (not being
a flushing cistern)
• Feed Cistern – means a cistern storing
water for use in hot water systems only
 COLD WATER STORAGE CISTERNS -
PURPOSE

• For dwellings, cold water storage

cisterns have one use:
• To store water for domestic purposes
e.g. washing, cooking.
• We must apply the Regulations to
prevent contamination and avoid waste
or misuse of the water undertakers
supply.
 Materials
• Plastics – e.g. polythene or polypropylene

• Galvanised Steel

• GRP – glass fibre reinforced plastic

• Asbestos
 Water Regulations - Reference
• Schedule 2 Section 7 Paragraph 16
outlines the requirements for storage
cisterns.
• With regard to the previous Byelaws that
were in force, it was Byelaw 30 that laid
down the requirements.
• The ‘Byelaw 30’ reference was so widely
accepted that it is still used today – even
by manufacturers.
 Extract from Water Regulations
• SECTION 7
Schedule 2: Paragraph 16: Cold water services
• (1) Every pipe supplying water connected to a storage cistern shall be fitted
with an effective adjustable valve capable of shutting off the inflow of water
at a suitable level below the overflowing level of the cistern.
• (2) Every inlet to a storage cistern, combined feed and expansion cistern,
WC flushing cistern or urinal flushing cistern shall be fitted with a servicing
valve on the inlet pipe adjacent to the cistern.
• (3) Every storage cistern, except one supplying water to the primary circuit
of a heating system, shall be fitted with a servicing valve on the outlet pipe.
• (4) Every storage cistern shall be fitted with-
– an overflow pipe, with a suitable means of warning of an impending overflow,
which excludes insects;
– a cover positioned so as to exclude light and insects; and
– thermal insulation to minimize freezing or undue warming.
• (5) Every storage cistern shall be so installed as to minimise the risk of
contamination of stored water. The cistern shall be of an appropriate size,
and the pipe connections to the cistern shall be so positioned, as to allow
free circulation and to prevent areas of stagnant water from developing.

•BS6700 Refer to slide 29 (p23 BS6700)

 Cistern Requirements
• In general, all cisterns should be:
• Fitted with an effective inlet control device.
• Fitted with a servicing valve on the inlet
and outlet.
• Fitted with an overflow pipe.
• Supported to avoid distortion or damage.
• Installed so that risk of contamination is
minimised.
 Cistern Requirements cont.
• Insulated to prevent heat loss and undue
warming.
• Arranged so that water can circulate.
• Readily accessible for inspection and
cleansing.
• Covered and screened to exclude light or
insects.
 Capacity
• Determined by considering
• Number of outlets
• Type of outlets
• Number of people using the system
• Usage pattern
• Local Water Authority requirements
• Guidance from BS6700
 Installation Considerations
• Where should the cistern be located?

• Consider the following

• Access
• Height or ‘headroom’
• Structural considerations
• Support for plastic cisterns
• Route of pipes
Support method
Access Requirements
 Guidelines for making connections to
‘plastics’ cisterns
• Use ‘hole cutters’
• Use polythene washers
• Use PTFE in conjunction with polythene
washers or rubber seals if necessary
• Do not use putty or paste as the oil will
affect the plastic
• Do not heat copper tube in order to melt
out holes instead of using a hole cutter
 ‘screened’ vent Sleeved
Vent pipe
vent pipe
Close fitting and secure cover

2 x vent pipe
dia. min. Warning
Pipe
W.L.
Air Gap with
‘filter’
W.L. 25mm
Centre line of
ball valve not Backing plate to Dip below W.L. to
lower than prevent flexing avoid cold draughts
max.
overflow CW connection
level to HW cylinder
taken from above
Bottom outlet from CW distribution
cistern recommended to outlets – WHY?
reduce sediment
retention in bottom of
cistern 25mm

Outlet options
insulation
Example from polytank
• Always
• 1. Fully support the base on a flat level platform.
• 2. Hole centre for float valve 60mm +/-5mm from top of cistern, fit
backplate.
• 3. Use sharpe hole cutters.
• 4. fit approved washers internally and externally.
• 5. Support all pipework.
• 6. Fit screened air inlet screened warning pipe & vent pipe Sleeve.
• 7. Fit lid and insulation.

• Never

• 1. Over tighten cistern connections.

• 2. Use jointing compound or putty.
• 3. Leave notch when cutting holes.
• 4. Distort cistern with fittings.
• 5. Scribe or score cisterns when marking out.
• 6. Site near heater or light bulb.
Drill using a 29mm
diameter hole saw. This
is the hole for the
22mm compression
tank connector that will
be the outlet.
Drill the hole for the
outlet pipe at the
opposite end to the
ball valve. This means
the inlet and outlet
create a circulatory flow
of water inside the tank.
 Linked storage cisterns
• Why link?
• Limited space
• Additional capacity requirements

• How is this done?

Examples
 Warning and Overflow pipes

• Cisterns having a capacity of 1000 litres or

less should have a warning pipe only

• For cisterns having a capacity greater than

1000 litres, it is recommended that a
warning pipe and an overflow pipe should
be provided.
 In groups
• Draw a direct system of cold water
 Insulation
• CW L2 presentations\CW Lesson Insulatio
n.ppt
Taps and valves
STOP VALVE

Crutch head

Rising spindle
Packing gland nut
packing
Head gear

jumper Valve body

washer

Fitted on mains cold water entry point to premises

GATE VALVE
(service valve)

Non rising spindle

Wedge shaped gate

 Spherical plug valve (service valve)

Quarter turn head

O rings

Fitted close to every float operated valve

Fitted close to taps for maintenance
Commonly used for washing machines
and dishwashers
 Taps
• Low resistance
• Standards BS1010 & BS5412
• 0.1 bar to 10 bar

• High resistance
• Standards BS6920 & BS EN 200
• 0.5 bar to 10 bar
 Taps
• Mixer

• Dual flow
Hose union
Bib Tap

Bib tap
 Supatap

Automatic closing device

washer

Mainly found in non domestic properties, e.g. school

labs.
 circlip
Pillar tap

Non-rising spindle

washer

backnut
Ceramic disc pillar tap
Mixer tap

These can be of two types – single flow and twinflow outlet

What is the difference?
 Taps

Three hole Four hole

Wall mounted bath mixer

 Taps

Monobloc basin mixer Monobloc bidet mixer

Swivel head

Ascending spray?
 Globe Taps
• Where are these
found?
• What must be
considered in relation
to the water supply?
 Prevention of mixing of water
• SCVA BS6282
 Backflow protection
• Think of fluid categories!
• DCVA BS6282
• Air gap
 Drain Taps
• Schedule 2 - Section 4 – Paragraph 11
• Sufficient drain taps should be fitted to
enable the draining of all supply and
distributing pipes within the building
• Drain taps should be screw down type to
BS2879
• Drain taps should not be buried or
installed where they are likely to become
submerged
Drain taps BS2879
 Float valves
• CW L2 presentations\CW Leson Float Val
ves.ppt
 Noise in systems

• Noise in systems is usually caused by vibration.

Not only is vibration a source of annoyance to
the occupier of the building, but in severe cases
it can also cause damage to pipework and
fittings, eventually causing leaks.
• Noise in systems is categorised as:
• water hammer
• flow noise
• expansion noise
 Water hammer

• This is probably the most common cause of

complaint from customers.
• Shock waves are transmitted along the pipe work,
making a loud hammering noise
• Caused through poor installation or maintenance
• Pipe work is not adequately clipped
• Insufficient support of float valve in plastic cistern
• Defective float valves and tap washers
• The velocity of the cold-water supply
 Flow noise

• Pipe work noise becomes significant at velocities over 3

m/s,
• The system should be designed to operate below 3 m/s
which may mean increasing the diameter of the pipe or
installing a pressure-reducing valve.
• Flow noise is also sometimes heard from cisterns. This can
be caused by splashing noises as the incoming water hits
the water surface as it fills.
• Silencer tubes on float valves were once used to cure this,
but are no longer allowed, except for the collapsible type.
 Expansion noise
• This usually occurs in hot-water pipe work.
• As the system expands and contracts, it
causes creaks and cracking sounds.
• The correct installation and use of relevant
pipe clips, brackets or pads between
pipes, fittings and pipe work surfaces
should help to deal with expansion and
contraction.
 Testing the system
• Refer to water regulations
• Schedule 2 – Section 4 – Paragraph 12/13

• Is the test the same for copper and plastic?

 TESTING SYSTEMS

• Soundness testing to BS6700:

• Before testing you should check that:
– All jointing is complete, with pipes and
components properly secured.
– Pipes below ground level have all ends
capped and are fully anchored.
– Pipes and components are visually inspected
for obvious signs of leakage, etc.
– Valves within the installation are fully open to
ensure the whole section is tested.
 Testing for leaks checklist

• Slowly turn on the stop tap to the rising main

• Slowly fill, in stages, to the various service
valves, and inspect for leaks on each section of
pipe work, including fittings
• Open service valves to appliances, fill the
appliance and again visually test for leaks
• Make sure the cistern water levels are correct
• Make sure the system is vented to remove any
air pockets prior to pressure testing.
 Schedule 2 – Section 4 –
Paragraph 12/13
• In all cases (copper steel & plastic) the
test should be carried out on completion
and before concealing any pipes
• The whole system (including underground)
should be tested hydraulically to an
internal pressure 1.5 times the maximum
operating pressure
• But the length of time of the test varies
according the material!
 For systems without plastic pipe or fittings

• Pump to 1.5 times max operating pressure

• Without further pumping
• Test for one hour
• There should be no drop in pressure
• No visible leak
For systems with plastic pipe or fittings
• There are two tests to choose from
• Test A
• Pump to 1.5 times max operating pressure
• Maintain the pressure over the next 30 minutes
by pumping
• Reduce the pressure to one third of the test
pressure
• Test for 90 minutes
• There should be no drop in pressure
• No visible leak
For systems with plastic pipe or fittings
• Test B
• Pump to 1.5 times max operating pressure
• Maintain the pressure over the next 30 minutes
by pumping
• Record the pressure
• Test for 30 minutes
• The drop in pressure should be less than 0.6 bar
with no visible leak
• Test for a further 120 minutes
• The drop in pressure should be less than 0.2 bar
with no visible leak
 Flushing
• Schedule 2 – Section 4 – Paragraph 13

• It is a requirement that each length of pipe

within the system is flushed, to remove
debris and excess flux

• What is flushing, how is it done? discuss

 Disinfection
• Schedule 2 – Section 4 – Paragraph 13

• When is disinfection required?

• How is disinfection done?

 When is disinfection required?
• New installations - except private
dwellings occupied by a single family
• Major extensions - except private
dwellings occupied by a single family
• Underground pipe, depends on size and
length – Water supplier will advise
• Where contamination is suspected
• Where a system has not been in regular
use such as seasonal occupation
 How is disinfection done?
• Flush the system
• Fill system (via air gap) with disinfection fluid
(chlorine concentration 50mg/l)
• Fluid run through to each draw off point
• Contact period one hour
• At each draw off check the chlorine
concentration level for a min of 30mg/l
• Drain and flush
• If not 30mg/l or more repeat disinfection
procedure until a min of 30mg/l is achieved
Maintenance
 Decommissioning of hot- and cold-water systems

• Decommissioning domestic systems

• Turn off the supply to the system,
• Remove system pipe work and components,
• Ensure that the hot or cold supplies are sealed or left so
that they can not be turned back on.
• This might be necessary:
• Where an old system is to be completely stripped out of
a domestic property and replaced with a new, or
alternative system, for example a direct hot-water
system being replaced with an indirect hot-water system
• Where a system is to be stripped out permanently, for
example prior to the demolition of a building.