Ch.

3
33
Sources of Water Supply
Art. 3-8
ir
ndex
3-8. SURFACE SOURCES FOR WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES
supply schemes
In this type of source, the surface runoff is available for water
The usual forms of surface sources are as follows
is
is
Lakes and streams
(1)
Ponds
(2)
year
Rivers
(3)
nual
Storage reservoirs
(4)
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Each of the above form of surface sources will now be briefly discussed
(1) Lakes and streams: A natural lake represents a large body of water within
land with impervious bed. Hence, it may be used as a source of water supply
scheme for nearby localities. The quantity of runoff that goes to the lake should
be accurately determined and it should be seen that it is at least equal to the
expected demand of locality. Similar is the case with streams which are formed
by the surface runoff
ater
dor
An elevated lakes are formed at the top of high mountains or on the slope of
mountains. They contain purest form of water as impervious mountains interrupt
clouds and collect rain water directly. Suspended solids settle as virtually there
is
no flow of water and hence, we get almost pure form of water
It is found that the flow of water in stream is quite ample in rainy season.
But it becomes less and less in hot season and sometimes the stream may even
become absolutely dry
The catchment area of lakes and streams is very small and hence, the quantity
of water available from them is also very low. Hence, the lakes and streams are not
considered as principal sources of water supply schemes for large cities.. But they
can be adopted as sources of water supply schemes for hilly areas and small towns
The water which is available from lakes and streams is generally free from
undesirable impurities and can therefore be safely used for drinking purposes
(2) Ponds: A pond is a man-made body of standing water smaller than a lake
Thus the ponds are formed due to excessive digging of ground for the construction
of roads, houses, etc. and they are filled up with water in rainy season. The
quantity
of water in pond is very small and it contains many impurities.
A pond cannot be adopted as a source of water supply and its water can only
be used for washing of clothes or for animals only
(3) Rivers: Many brooks, springs and streams converge to form a river. It is
observed that rivers are studied more thoroughly than other sources of water.
Since the dawn of civilization, the ancient man settled on the banks of river,
drank
iver water, ate fish caught from river water and sailed down rivers to find out
unknown lands. Even the occurrence of floods did not disappoint the man and he
tried to study the regularities of floods and make use of flood waters for
irrigation
of his fields. As a matter of fact, many ancient civilizations such as India,
Egypt,
etc.were inseparably bound up with rivers
source of water supply schemes for
The large rivers constitute the principal
many cities. Depending upon the uniformity of flow and availability of water, the
rivers are broadly classified into following two categories: