TOPIC 4 :WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Gravity system COURSE OUTLINE
b) Pumping system
c) Combination of gravity and pump system 6 HOURS of LECTURE = 3 WEEKS

2. PIPING MATERIAL
a) Selection of piping material
b) Advantages and disadvantages of multiple pipe material
c) Selection of pipe size

3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

a) Valves
b) Storage reservoirs
i. Storage reservoir construction
ii. Main component in storage reservoir

4. NON REVENUE WATER

a) Leakage factors
b) Leakage procedure measurements
i. Direct leakage measurements
ii. Indirect leakage measurements
c) Methods to control leakage
d) Methods to detect leakage
e) Piping design with Hazen Williams formula
1. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A good water supply can be considered good if it comply with following

requirements

i. have good water quality by meeting local needs, such as colorless,

not turbid, not hard and does not contain suspended solids

ii. quantity and pressure of water supplied is adequate for all uses,
including for fire prevention

iii. Non revenue water occurs at the minimum rate of 15%

iv. cheap, durable and easily maintained

1. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM • Water is supplied from a higher place to
a) Gravity system a lower place

• Treatment plant is located at a higher

ground from user

• Friction in piping can cause energy loss

which eventually can cause static head

• This will make end user experience slow

water from tap.

• Advantages
o Reliable
o Low operation cost
o Suitable for community at the lower
ground
• Disadvantages
o Static head will cause a drop in
pressure, and cause end user angry
1. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Pump system

• Used for low pressure end user

• located on lower ground than end
user
• Water is directly pumped to delivery
pipe
• Advantages
o Pressure and flow of water can
be adjusted for demand

• Disadvantages
o water supply cut off if there is no electricity or pump defective
o different water flow rates cause pressure to change
o pump operate at different speeds according to the rate of flow,
causing the pump can damage quickly
1. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
c) Combined gravity and pump system

• Water is pumped up and stored on

high level ground in tank or reservoir
• Water id distributed by gravity to end
user.
• Pressure head must be elevated to
allow next water flow
• Advantages
o Effective
o Low operation cost
o Able to supply water if pump fail
or no electricity
o Need moderate and flat rate
capacity pump
• Disadvantages
o Problem related with operation
and maintenance pump
Types of Water Distribution Systems

1. Dead End System

▫ solved easily

▫ less number of shut-off valves

▫ shorter pipe lengths and the easy

to lay pipes

▫ cheap and simple and expanded

easily

▫ prevent circulation of water

▫ problem if a pipe is damaged

Types of Water Distribution Systems

2. Grid System
•less discharge, friction loss and
pipe size

•no problem if a pipe is damaged

•No dead ends ie. allows circulation

of water
▫ Good for fire fighting

▫ more pipelines and shut-off

Valves

▫ high cost of construction

▫ design is difficult and expensive

Types of Water Distribution Systems

3. Ring System
▫ closed ring, circular or rectangular

▫ suitable for well-planned towns

and cities

▫ Generally at high demand areas

▫ No problem if a pipe is damaged

▫ No dead ends i.e allows
circulation of water
▫ Good for fire fighting

▫ more pipelines and shut-off valves

▫ high cost of construction

▫ design is difficult and expensive

Types of Water Distribution Systems

4. Radial System
▫ For a town where a system of
radial roads emerging from
different centers

▫ distribution reservoirs at
these centers

▫ From mains ---- pumped into

the Distribution Reservoir
placed at different centers and
then to the service areas.

▫ ensures high pressure and

efficient water distribution
2. PIPING MATERIAL
a) Selection factors

i. Pressure of work and test

ii. Strength

iii. Durability

iv. Workability at site

v. Cost – capital, operation and maintenance

vi. Leakage possibility

2. PIPING MATERIAL
b) Advantages and disadvantages of multiple pipe material
Material Adv Disadv
Cast iron Corrosion resistant Weak against impact
Low cost Heavy
Multiple joints available
Ductile iron Corrosion resistant Heavy
Able to strong impact High cost
Asbestos Low cost Weak against bending
cement Electrolysis free easily leak if exposed to excavators
Light and easy workability Fragile
easily leak at the connection
steel strong against bending and Weak to corrosion
tensile impact Pipe Connection need to be welded
Long
No leak problem
HDPE ( high Flexible & Light High cost
density Strong against impact Need special tool to connect
polyethylene) Low Internal friction Need adjustable socket for other pipe
connection
Water pipes are pipes or tubes, frequently made of polyvinyl chloride
(PVC/uPVC), ductile iron, steel, cast iron, polypropylene, polyethylene, or
copper, that carry pressurized and treated fresh water to buildings (as part
of a municipal water system), as well as inside the building.
Asbestos Cement

Ductile iron

Cast iron

HDPE pipe

Steel PVC pipe

GRP (Glass-fiber Reinforced Plastic) pipe
2. PIPING MATERIAL
c) Selection of pipe size

• For gravity system, it depend on differences in level of

source and end user

• For pump system, it depend on the need of power cost

• Pipe diameter also depend on the major loss due to the

friction in distribution pipe , delivery pipe and
reticulation

• Minor losses caused by valves and connection usually

minimum and can be can be neglected
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
i. Stop/gate valve
• Use to control flow rate, pressure and
stop flow rate
• Stop cock - small size (d < 100mm)
• Sluice valve – big size (d > 100mm)
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
ii. Butterfly valve
• Use to control flow rate
• Pipe size, d > 450mm
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
iii. Scour valve
• Stop valve - Use for cleaning works
scouring works
• About 1/3 of the main pipe size
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
iv. Air release valve
• Single orifice type – to release air in the
pipe
• Double orifice type – to release air in the
pipe and allow air into the pipe
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
v. Check valve
• Semi auto valve – allow only one way flow
rate
• Open when water flow
• Closed when water stop flow
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
vi. Ball valve
• Use to control flow level at a certain level
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
vii. Altitude valve/one way flow (tank fill)

• Provides automatic filling of elevated tanks or

reservoirs.

• When the altitude control senses a drop in

level below the predetermined set point, the
valve opens to fill tank.

• When the level again reaches the set point,

the valve will close.

• Discharge of the tank is by a separate line.

3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
viii. altitude valve / two way flow
(tank fill & discharge)

• Controls both the fill and discharge cycles

of a tank or reservoir.

• When valve inlet (system) pressure falls

below tank head pressure, the altitude
valve opens to feed the system.

• When system pressure recovers above

tank head, the tank begins to refill.

• When the high level set point is reached,

the valve will close.
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
ix. (a) Pressure reducing valve
• automatically reduces the pressure from
the water supply main to a lower, more
suitable pressure.

• to boost water supply pressures in

supply mains to be able to supply water
for fire fighting, high rise buildings to
overcome loss of pressure as the
elevation increases

• to maintain water supply in water towers

and supply tanks
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
x. Pressure sustaining/relief valve
• The valve instantly opens when the
pressure in the pipeline exceeds the
preset safe level, thus relieving excessive
pressure from the pipeline.
• When the pressure returns to normal, the
valve closes.
• The valve also can be used to sustain
upstream pressure to a preset pressure
value
• Use to control pressure
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a) Valves
xi. Constant flow valve
• To provide an accurate way of controlling
flow configuration.
• Use to set flow rate
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

• Main function
o To provide treated water for emergency use like power shortage, pump
malfunction, fire fighting
o To act as a break pressure tank
o To equalize flow rate because of changing in demand rate and supply rate

• Two types
i. Balancing tank
o To distribute water to the service tank
o To provide adequate pressure and flow to the service tank
o Design must fulfill the water inlet (from main/plant) and the water
outlet (to the service tank)
o Built near water treatment plant

ii. Service tank

o To supply treated water to the reticulation pipe
o Normally can supply for one day use
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

i. Storage reservoir construction

• Selection factors of material construction

1. Lifespan of material and its advantages

2. Volume needed
3. Strength of material
4. Location and surrounding condition
5. resistance to internal and external corrosion and
abrasion

• Materials are :
1. Reinforced concrete
2. Pre stressed concrete
3. Galvanized pressed steel
4. Fiberglass reinforced plastic
5. Steel fused with glass
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

i. Storage reservoir construction

• Materials are :
1. Reinforced concrete
• Low cost maintenance and
longer lifespan
• Grounded or elevated
• Volume less than 13,500 m3
– round shape ( rectangle also
does)
• high construction cost
• Must meet BS 5337, 1976
( code of practice for structural
use of aqueous liquid)
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

i. Storage reservoir construction

• Materials are :
2. Prestressed concrete
• More than 13,500m3
• Grounded or elevated
• Round or rectangle
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

i. Storage reservoir construction

• Materials are :
3. Galvanized pressed steel
• As storage tank
• Fast construction
• Low cost construction but high cost maintenance
• Avoid rusting surrounding such as beach/coast
• Grounded or elevated
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

i. Storage reservoir construction

• Materials are :
4. Fiber glass reinforced plastic
• Low cost construction
• Fast and easy installation
• Minimum maintenance
• Light weight – can customize for order
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs

i. Storage reservoir construction

5. Steel fused with glass

• Smooth, low friction, hard and water tight
• Minimum maintenance
• Grounded or elevated
• Modular size
3. COMPONENTS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
b) Storage reservoirs
ii. Main component in storage reservoir

1. Inlet pipe 6. Manhole

2. Outlet pipe 7. Ladder
3. Overflow pipe 8. Water level indicator
4. Scouring pipe 9. Float valve
5. Ventilator
4. NON REVENUE WATER

a) Leakage factors

b) Leakage procedure
measurements
i. Direct leakage
measurements
ii. Indirect leakage
measurements

c) Methods to control
leakage

d) Methods to detect
leakage

e) Piping design with Hazen

Williams formula
4. NON REVENUE WATER

• Definition - water that has been produced and is “lost” before it reaches the
customer

• Why we have to deal with it :

o Almost distribution pipes experiencing leakage
o it is not worthy to install “water tight” system
o It makes cost for water treatment escalates
o Minimizing NRW – not only good for companies, but less microorganism
penetration thru crack

• Methods of Reducing NRW

o Control system to reduce pressure at the very beginning of distribution
o New and comprehensive water distribution system
o Specific department for NRW related problem – solving
o Strict punishment for illegal connection and water leeching
The source of Non-Returned Water (NRW).
a. Distribution pipe
b. Delivery pipe
c. Reservoir
d. Illegal usage and squatters
e. Fire fighting
f. Operational usage consumption of water authority
g. Meter-Under-Registration(MUR)
4. NON REVENUE WATER
a) Leakage factors

i. Pressure
• Pressure surge - main, danger, cause pipe to burst when the pump
stops or the valve closes suddenly
• pressure changes – minor , neglected

ii. Ground movement

• expansion and contraction of the soil will cause metal (pipe) fatigue

iii. Rusting in pipe from electrolysis

---process internal ( high chlorine and acidic )
---process external ( different water characteristic)
_ iron and copper – volt (potential different)

iv. Soil condition

• Leakage water in the soil tend to appear on the soil surface because of
capillary rise. wet soil causes the plants look and green indicating enough
water even in the drought season
4. NON REVENUE WATER
a) Leakage factors

v. Traffic load
• Vibration will cause tiny crack to the pipe if the bedding is not strengthened
and improper depth

vi. Material and work -> poor quality

• Fitting material such as valves and joints are not suitable/poor quality
• Also installation, fixing, setting up are not a good workmanship

vii. Pipe lifespan

• Depend on material property like durability, internal/external corrosion
resistant , impact load, tensile/bending due to the weak bedding
4. NON REVENUE WATER
b) Leakage procedure measurements
i. Direct leakage measurements
1) Leakage at water tank/reservoir (Reservoir Leaking)
• Test to water tank valves for not leak
• Using depth sensor to measure drop of in water level
• 12 hours duration test
• Easy to detect leaking
• Small and neglected.

2) Leakage at main/delivery pipe (Delivery Pipe Leaking)

• For each pipeline (vessel), end to end valves are closed.
• Leaking = Final reading (water out) – early reading (water in)
• Sometimes, slightly significant leak and need fixing

3) Leakage at distribution pipe (Distribution Pipe Leakage)

• This is significant leak and need to be concerned
• Measure Q night where most possible minimum flow rate
• Must be separated from other supplied area
• Leaking = reading (dist. pipe) – reading (user)
• Factors > piping system, meter, illegal connection……
 4. NON REVENUE WATER
b) Leakage procedure measurements
ii. Indirect leakage measurements

M – metered reading (billed usage)

+
U -- Under recording ( meter inaccuracies)
Leaking = Water in ---- water out --- +
D -- Domestic use such as firefighting,
scouring work,
+
I -- Illegal > theft, unauthorized use, leeching
4. NON REVENUE WATER
c) Methods to control leakage
i. Pressure control

• Used in the area ---that is have high pressure changes

• Small reducing pressure will reduce leakage significantly

• But most of the old piping material like metal made, pressure
reducing will could become a problem due to the internal pipe
crusting.

• Typical method used are:

 Pressure reducing valves
 Reducing pumping head
 Pressure break tank
4. NON REVENUE WATER
c) Methods to control leakage
ii.
Passive control
• Leakage will be fixed based on
report from concerned community
• Fixing based on complaint/report
• Sometime considering the new
piping in old area

iii. Listening
4. NON REVENUE WATER
c) Methods to control leakage
iv. Waste and combined metering
• A waste meter measures the total flow into a waste area by isolating the area into a
few area. And it is called waste meter area, WMA.

• The waste meter area is installed temporarily for the test so that it is only
supplied by the waste meter.

• In district metering, a single DMA may be divided into several WMA, sometimes
using the same meter installed temporarily into different areas.

• Waste meters are used specifically to record the minimum night flow rate, this
measurement being used to judge whether there is significant level of leakage by
comparison with previous readings.

• Alternatively, when used with district metering, they are run only when the district
meters indicate a significant level of leak.

• If it is judged that action is required, waste meters can be used to perform further
tests to locate the leakage within a still smaller area
4. NON REVENUE WATER
d) Methods to detect leakage
i. Visual inspection – using clues to detect leak like
• Wet soil surface
• Green grass when drought season
• There is a clean water flow into drain – detect using chlorine test
4. NON REVENUE WATER
d) Methods to detect leakage
ii. Sounding
• Same as listening
4. NON REVENUE WATER
d) Methods to detect leakage

iii. Leak noise conductor

• More efficient/accurate in iron pipe, not plastic
• Measuring at two suspected point by vibration/sound
• Vibration are transmitted from sensor to the conductors
4. NON REVENUE WATER
d) Methods to detect leakage

iv. Tracer gas – a portable gas sensor is used to detect nontoxic

gas as it escaped thru leaks in pipe and rises thru the
surrounding soil to the ground surface
4. NON REVENUE WATER
e) Piping design with Hazen Williams formula

Factors affecting the design

• Flow velocity - normal 2.5 m/s, in pump station must below 1.2 m/s to
cope cavitations problem
• Peak demand - because of difference in hourly demand
• Fire fighting flow
• Recommended pressure residue - to balance the demand and supply
• Minimum diameter - 150mm for residence area

 Easy to use for pressured pipe because of simple calculation

 only use scientific calculator and need no graph chart
 However, it has range of accuracy because limitation factor
 Not suitable in diameter less than 50mm and velocity 3 m/s