HES1115

Sustainable Design

Assignment 1:
Engineers Without Borders
Water Supply System
LECTURER: Monzur Imteaz

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Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary Page 3

2. Water Source Options Page 4

2.1 Introduction Page 4

2.2 Surface Water Page 4

2.2.1 Creeks/River Page 4

2.2.2 Ephemeral Lakes Page 5

2.2.3 Summary of Surface Water Page 5

2.3 Ground Water Page 5

2.3.1 Artesian Well Page 5

2.3.2 Ground Water Summary Page 6

2.4 Rain Water Page 6

2.4.1 Rain Water Summary Page 7

2.5 Summary Page 7

3. Design Options Page 8

3.1 Ground Water Page 8

3.2 Rain Water Page 9

4. Construction, Operation & Materials, Filtrations Page 11

4.1 Rain Water Collection Page 12

4.1.1 Design & Materials of the 4 Tanks Page 13

4.1.2 Guttering System & Downpipes Page 15

4.1.3 Pumps & Water Extraction Page 16

4.1.4 Filtration Page 16

4.2 Underground Water Page 19

4.3 Maintenance Page 20

4.4 Economical Impact Page 22

4.4.1 Costing Page 22

4.5 Social & Environmental Impact Page 23

5. Conclusion Page 24

6. References Page 25

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 1. Executive Summary
This report conceptualizes our design for a better means of obtaining water for the
Kooma people of Bendee Downs.

Presently their fresh water supply is split up into two categories, Ground water and
surface water. The ground water consists of a main bore hole that allows access to
the Hurray Sandstorm formation, it is under more pressure than that of the other
bore holes and therefore has the freshest water. The Hurray Sandstorm Formation
has supplied drinking water since it was drilled over a century ago. The bore holes in
the area that don’t access this formation are connected to the Wyandra formation,
which is under less pressure and is thus not fit for drinking water.

The other form of fresh water supply is their surface water consisting of the Nebine
creek and a number of small lakes, which are predominately dry. This means that
there is a limited fresh water supply and because of the increasing population, the
lack of resources has the potential to be a nuisance to the Kooma people.

Therefore we as a team brainstormed many alternatives to the means of gathering

water that the Kooma people are currently habituated with.

Our final design was a drill well that will make it easier for the civilians of Bendee
downs to gather their water. The proposed drill well will be placed in multiple parts
of the town so that walking distance is at a minimum for those who are sent to
gather the water.

The following report will explain our design proposal in greater detail, including the
design, how and what it’s made with and also the impact on the environment,
society and economy.

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Water Source Options
2.1 Introduction
Two key factors had to be taken down in order to select the most appropriate, cost
efficient and applicable method for water supply

These two factors were:

Water Sources and its three sub-components Surface water, ground water and
rainwater. The final outcome will be determined weighed upon the sources
reliability, quality, accessibility and impact.

Collection this factor will be taken into account by the weighing of its cost, durability
and maintenance.

2.2 Surface water

Basically surface water is water standing on the top of ground or soil, waiting either
to soak down into the soil or to evaporate. Is also used to characterize water that
collects and stands or is stored in lakes, ponds, rivers, bayous, streams, canals and
reservoirs, either natural or man-made [3].
In the case for Bendee Downs surface water is very limited due to the harsh
environment and hot climate. The only available surface water resources includes
water from creeks/rivers and ephemeral lakes. These two options will be explored
for the possible use in the proposed Bendee Downs regional hub.

2.2.1 Creeks/Rivers
Rivers and Creeks in many populated areas are regularly used as water supplies that
foster for basic water needs such as simple drinking water to flushing toilets.
However, for the Bendee Downs community the only creek, the Nebine Creek that
goes through the community is far from a reliable source. Firstly, the creek bed is
usually dry throughout the year and only comes alive during the wet season. In
Queensland the wet season lasts about six months in summer and spring, between
December and March. It is hotter than the dry season, with temperatures between
30 and 50 degrees Celsius. This is because of the high humidity during the wet, which
is caused by large amounts of water in the air. During the wet season there is a lot of
rain, which frequently causes flooding [1] and brings the Nebine Creek alive.
Unfortunately this source of water would not be applicable for the regional hub
because of its unreliability and for the fact that it is dry for most of the year. The cost

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of its collection and piping to the site is also a factor that renders this as an
inappropriate approach.

2.2.2 Ephemeral Lakes

An ephemeral aquatic environment is a body of water that exists for only a very
short time. It may be a shallow lake, an arroyo, a stream or spring, or even a small
pool or puddle [2]. For the regional hub this is a problem because like the Nebine
Creek it is unreliable. Even in the wet season the shallow lakes only fill up to a depth
of 1.5m a very small amount unable to suffice for the needs of the regional hub.

2.2.3 Summary of Surface Water

After taking into account the two main options presented for the Bendee Down
regional Hub, neither the Nebine Creek nor Ephemeral lakes will be a suitable option
for the water supply. Simply on the grounds that they are dried for most of the year
and unreliable because of that fact.

2.3 Ground Water

2.3.1 Artesian Well
The Great Artesian Basin is one of the greatest sources of freshwater in Australia.
The basin is 1.7 million square kilometres and covers nearly 1/5 th of the continent. It
holds approximately 64 900 million mega litres [4] more than enough for the regional
hub. It is a source of water that has sustained life and augmented many industries
ever since its discovery in 1878. However, for the case of the Bendee Downs regional
Hub some factors must be taken into account. The great artesian basin works on the
basis that through the porous and permeable sandstones enough pressure is built up
so that as soon as a bore taps into the basin water automatically flows to the surface.
Initially, when the basin was first tapped 10 Decaliters of water would spring forth a
day, but now only 0.1 to 6 ML/day surface on average [4]. The reason for this
decrease in pressure is that there are now thousands of bores right across the North
east of Australia that is contributing to the loss of pressure. It has now gotten to the
point where around 1/3 of the bores no longer have water flow causing there to be a
need to install pumps to draw the water out. In Bendee Downs the Great Artesian
Basin is accessed through the Hurray Sandstone Formation and there are currently
13 bore wells already built in the area.

For the regional hub to access the Sandstone Formation these factors must be
revised

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  It would roughly cost $50 per meter and on the basis that the hub is
approximately 550m from the sandstone formation total cost would be
$27500.
 Also if the pressure was low the cost for a bore pump and its installation
would range between $3000 - $5000 [5].
 Maintenance costs.

Sub Artesian Well

In the Bendee Downs region there is another underground source of water known as
the Wyndara rock formation. This rock formation holds water that has been used for
agriculture in the Bendee Downs in the past. However, the downside is that it is too
salty for human consumption exceeding our tolerance of 2% [6]. Its pressure is also
low causing weak water flow, which in the case for the regional hub might require a
pump to access it. Although the Wydara Rock formation is too salty for humans, the
water may be harnessed for other uses such as laundry, flushing toilets and watering
the garden. Because the water is salty; and has in the past led to the abandonment
of orchards and other gardens, the plants used in the garden should be specifically
chosen so that they each have a high salinity tolerance such as plants like the Willow
Myrtle, Bushy Yate or Judas Tree as listed in [7].

2.3.2 Groundwater summary

Although the groundwater in Bendee downs satisfies the many needs of the regional
hub the factors such as the cost and sustainability must be taken into account before
the right decision will be made.

2.4 Rainwater
The Bendee Downs region like all regions in the north experience extreme weather
conditions that can be harnessed for the greater use of humans. One aspect of the
weather and in the case for the possible regional hub, is the rain and its use as a
water supply. Rain water is not abundant in Bendee Downs, in fact the area only
receives 462mm a year [8] just below average.

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As you can see from the above table Bendee Downs receives the most rain during
summer or the Wet season, between November and March. It is here where Bendee
Downs receives an average of 41.6mm of rain a month; a time perfect to harvest
water for human consumption and other uses in the regional hub.

For the regional hub to successfully harvest rainwater these factors must be revised

 Each building would need to be redesigned to incorporate efficient gutters

and specifically shaped roofs.
 There will need to be a pipeline that connects all buildings to the main water
storage tanks and filter systems etc.
 The possibility of a dry season.
 Maintenance

2.4.1 Rainwater Summary

Although rainwater is a big possibility for the regional hub’s water supply, the fact
still remains that the extreme weather and unpredictable rainfall patterns means
that this is not 100% viable.

2.5 WATER SOURCE SUMMARY

After looking at all the possible water sources it can only be concluded that there
should be the systematic use of 3 water supplies used for the Bendee Downs regional
hub. The three water sources are the use of the Wyndara rock formation, the
harvesting of rainwater and the use of the Hurray Sandstone formation.

The rainwater collected will be the main source for human consumption especially
throughout the wet season, while the Hurray Sandstone formation will act as a
backup in case of a “poor” wet season or if the rainwater is critically low during
winter. The Wyndara rock formation on the other hand will be implemented for use
on gardening and areas of plumbing throughout the buildings such as flushing toilets
and laundry.

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3. Design Options
3.1 Ground Water
By ground water it is meant that bore water is an option of supplying water to
Bendee Downs, it was decided that retrieving bore water was one of the most
efficient ways in which Bendee Downs can be supplied with water.

The reason it was suggested to use bore water was for a number of reasons, firstly
being that bore water being underground and isolated in the Aquifer means that it is
free from bacteria's such as Pathogenic bacteria, for example. This meaning there is
less treatment involved and required in order for the water to be finally distributed.
Bore water has also been known to contain calcium which normal drinking water
doesn't contain which is good for the Bendee Downs citizens.

Figure 3a

Another positive being bore water is it can be found practically anywhere, meaning
the water doesn't need to be transported large distances, especially in Bendee
Downs, where the water storage would be close by to the town. Bore water is found
just under the Aquifer which as mentioned can be found in many places and isn't to
far into the ground. Bore water is replenished
by rain, which even though the rain fall in
Bendee Downs is below average the bore
water may last a little while especially when
its suppling a small populated place such as
Bendee Downs. Below is Figure 3a and it
shows the ground and gives a small idea of far
down till the aquifer is reached, in this
diagram it is ladled saturated Zone.

Figure 3b
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 In order to get to the bore water a
well needs to be put into place
which reaches the aquifer so the
water can be taken and stored in a
storage facility. There are three
types of wells and the best well to
fit the criteria of Bendee Downs is a
drill well, which can reach 600 feet.
If a drill well is put into the ground
in Bendee Downs it will pump
Figure 3c water from the ground into the
storage tank as shown in this basic
diagram shown in figure 3b. At the bottom of the diagram is the aquifer and the part
labelled 1 is the drilled well, the part labelled 2 is the pump which pumps the water
out into a tank where the water can be stored. Drilled wells can be run by manually
pumping the water out or using machinery to pump the water out, but since it is on
required to supply water for a small populated place manually pumping the water is
the ideal method. In figure 3c it shows another drilled well showing the level of the
water/aquifer and the water being pumped into a storage tank much similar to the
one proposed earlier.

3.2 Rain Water

Rain water was the other option that was decided to provide water for Bendee
Downs, as a backup to the bore water. Since rainfall is below average in Bendee
Downs, rain water shouldn't be the only method of suppling water for this town even
being a small town, which is why bore water is the main source for water and
rainwater is second.

Though rainfall is below average in Bendee

Downs it still dose rain there and using
rainwater is an advantage being cheap. There
will be rain gutters placed on all the roofs
which will be connected to underground pipes
leading to the main storage tank as shown in
Figure 3d figure 3d. This figure shows a picture of the
rain gutters connected to the pipes

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underground leading to the main town’s storage tank. In figure 3e it shows a rain
water tank which will be used in order to store the captured rain water. A similar
tank will be used for the storage of the bore water. Figure 3f shows a very basic and
easy made rain gutter put on a house which leads into a bucket in a rural area in
Africa though it is not very hygienic in this picture in the
proposed one for Bendee Downs the water will go
through filtration stages before being transported to
the people of Bendee Downs.

Figure 3e

Figure 3f

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4. Construction, Operation and Materials, Filtrations
To ensure the proposed water supply system for Bendee Downs is sustainable,
effective and will successfully improve the water supply system for the local
community, the design will consist of a combination of rainwater collection and
storage and an underground pump to collect groundwater. The construction and
materials of the system will be simple and low cost ensuring the community of
Bendee Downs will have sufficient, clean drinking water. For both the rainwater
collection and the pumping of bore water, there will need to be construction
instructions and operation strategies. The construction will employ the skills of the
locals so that they can gain an understanding of the design and if needed to in the
future, will develop their own similar design for potential needs.

The design of the water supply system will ensure that the locals of Bendee Downs
will not need to do any monitoring or work to ensure the ongoing operation. The
pumps will be all censored and controlled by power and hence there will be entirely
independent. The tanks will be filled automatically via the guttering and down pipes.
If there is extreme weather conditions and an overflow of the tanks, outlet pipes will
simply allow the water to flow out.

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4.1 Rain Water Collection:
Rain water collection will be collected from the roofs of two main buildings within
the Bendee Downs area, the shearing sheds and the accommodation buildings as
they have the largest surface area and hence will collect the most water. The water
collected will be used for gardening and recreational purposes such as being
incorporated to link with the flushing systems in the toilets. In addition, tanks will be
installed on site of these two buildings. However before installation of the tanks and
considering how big the tanks will be, a small calculation will need to be made to find
out exactly how much rain falls in the area, which will help to evaluate how much
water the tanks will need to hold. Therefore the following calculation was made:

7000L tank

3000L tank

3000L tank

7000L tank

Figure 4a – Top view of the Bendee Downs site where tanks will
be installed.

Referring to Figure 4a
1. Roof area of Shearing Sheds + undercover area = 3 m* 3 m + 41 m* 9.5 m + 6.5 m
* 15.5 m = 499.25 m²
Bendee Downs average yearly rainfall = 462 mm

Therefore: 499.25 m² * 462 mm = 230,653.5 litres/annum.

However, the gradient of the roof should allow for 70 – 75% (runoff coefficient)
of precipitation to be captured leaving 230,653.5 * 0.7 = 161,457.45 litres/year

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 = 13,454.7875 litres/month

Hence 2 * 7000 litre tanks will be required to meet the average monthly rainfall
for the Shearing Sheds and undercover area building capturing 14,000 litres.
(This is more than the average rainfall per month however we do not know the
exact gradient of the roof, so just to be in the safe side).

2. Roof area of Accommodation building = 20.5 m * 11 m = 225.5 m²

Bendee Downs average yearly rainfall = 462 mm

Therefore: 225.5 m² * 462 mm = 104,181 litres/annum

However once again the gradient of the roof should allow for 70 – 75% (runoff
coefficient) of precipitation to be captured leaving 104,181 * 0.7
= 72,926.7 litres/year

= 6,077.225 litres/month

Hence 2 * 3000 litre tanks will need to be installed to meet the average monthly
rainfall for the Accommodation building.

Summary of tanks for rainwater to be installed:

2 * 7000 litre tanks for shearing sheds building

2 * 3000 litre tanks for accommodation building

4.1.1 Design & Materials of the 4 tanks:

The rain water tanks will be the most expensive in the rainwater collection system.
Therefore it is essential to focus on cheap, simple and practical tanks. They must be
strong and not corrode overtime from the extreme weather expected in Bendee
Downs. Furthermore ground water tanks were chosen over underground for
numerous reasons:

Ground Water Tanks

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Easy to construct for Take up space Ground water tanks
traditional materials
Can be raised above Affected by
ground level to increase weather
water pressure
Can detect leaks and
cracks easily
Can extract water via
gravity and/or pumps
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Underground Water Tanks
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Save Space Hard to extract water, Underground
need a pump water tanks
Not obstructing or Difficult to detect leaks
prominent and cracks
Expensive
Can be damaged if heavy
vehicles are driven over it

As shown very clearly in the diagram, there are a lot more advantages than
disadvantages for above ground water tanks and in regards to the local community in
Bendee Downs, above ground water tanks would be the prudent option. The
materials considered for the tanks were colorbond steel, concrete, polyethylene and
fiberglass. However as a result of the extreme weather conditions and the extreme
sunlight in Bendee Downs, polyethylene tanks will be installed. Polyethylene tanks
respond well to bumps and are non-corrosive. They are light, durable long lasting
and often the cheapest tanks. Their advantage is that they are easy to transport from
nearby towns and cities as a result of the lightweight, which is very convenient for
Bendee Downs residents. However it as been stated that polyethylene tanks are not
suitable in hot weather so therefore it will be made sure that they are installed under
constant shading around the buildings to reduce sunlight as much as possible.

Figure 4b – Diagram of a polyethylene tank that will be similarly used.

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4.1.2 Guttering system & Downpipes:
Gutters:
There is no roof guttering system installed around the perimeter of the shearing
sheds so they will need to be installed. In the accommodation building, a newer,
more efficient guttering system will also be installed. They are very vital as they are
the main element in collecting the rainwater from the roof. Even though there isn’t
significant rain in Bendee Downs, the state of Queensland has recently been affected
by heavy raining and flooding. Hence it is vital to maximize the suitable size of the
guttering system to capture heavy rainfalls when there is, so that water is not lost
through overflow. There will also be floating suction filters installed in the gutters to
capture leaves and filter the water which is explained more in the filtering section.

In this project, galvanized iron gutters will be installed for the gutters because they
are strong, locally available and relatively
inexpensive which is ideal for this
community. The gutters will have a slope
and inclined towards the tanks to
maximize storage and have a minimum
area of 8000 mm².
Figure 4c – Galvanized Iron Gutters that will be used
on the roofs.

Downpipes:
Downpipes are necessary in order to distribute rainwater from the gutters into the
storage tanks. Once again they must be maximized to suitable size in case of heavy
rainfall that Queensland has been experiencing. They will need
to be strong and very easy to install, without being too costly.
According to water engineers, the size of the downpipes will
be proportional to the average Bendee Downs rainfall per
year, the areas of the roofs and the size of the guttering
system.
Figure 4d – Diagram depicting
downpipe connected to gutter system.

In this project, PVC downpipes will be instated at approximately 5 m intervals

because they are again strong and durable, inexpensive and very easy to install. They
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 only disadvantaged associated with PVC downpipes is that they
may need to be painted over years or they may become brittle as a
result of the extreme weather conditions. However this is not a
problem because the people of Bendee Downs will be educated
about this water supply project and will be familiarized with this
job.

Figure 4e – Different shapes

and sizes of PVC downpipes.

4.1.3 Pumps & Water Extraction:

Pumps are needed to be utilized so that they can extract water from the tanks. The
major requirement for the pump should be that it must be relatively inexpensive,
efficient and require minimal maintenance. The pump must also be mobile or flexible
so that one pump can service all other tanks.

In our water supply system, pressure pumps will be used along with fixed or floating
suction filters and this combination is usually recommended for the system. The use
of suction filters is that it aids in protecting the drawing in any particles and improves
the reliability of the installation. This type of twin system is considered with the
installation of the tank which ensures reliability and also better performance of the
system with the ability to overcome the loss of supply if one
pump fails. A hose will connect the tank to the pump and
when water storage is in use, the pump will automatically
turn on and pump the water to where it is needed within the
building.
Figure 4f –
Pressure pump similar to what will be used to distribute water across.

This pressure pump will be transported from Brisbane. It is a relatively expensive

pump that will be installed, however extremely vital and a must as precautions must
be made ensuring no or very little contamination will be pumped through.
Furthermore, it is very easy to operate and can pump large volumes of water and will
require no maintenance.

4.1.4 Filtration
The proposed system implies the use of mainly three types of industrialized filters for
harvesting of rainwater. These are downpipe filers, vortex filters and floating suction
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filters. The idea of using a filter is to get a purified form of water by clearing all the
debris, devoid of contaminations of heavy metals or any other metals, removing
leaves or any particle from the rain water.

Downpipe Filters:
The distribution points of the system for the rain water are the downpipes.
Downpipe filters direct water to the storage tank through vertically oriented stainless
steel filters with the application of adhesion forces. There is an outlet connection
which receives the filtered water and this characteristics feature allows the full flow
of water through the downpipe and filter as there should not be any obstruction or
narrowing of the downpipe subsequently to the storage tank. The left over water
cleans debris and particles greater than 0.28mm from the system
through a filter collector into the drain.

Figure 4g – Downpipe Filters

The main requirement for the downpipe filters is that they should be strong,
inexpensive and easy to install but the maintenance of the filter plays a major role
wherein the filters must be cleaned for every 2 to 3 months in order to be used
effectively. The other requirements include the size of the filters and they should be
of a suitable size in order to effectively distribute the rain water from the gutters into
the storage tanks.

Vortex Filters:
Vortex filters are mainly used where the rainwater from the roof is channelled
through a horizontal underground pipe. As the name suggests, vortex filters are
designed in a way that the inlet to the filter swirls water in a vortex like action
around the surface of stainless steel filter below. The exact mechanism of vortex
filters is that the rainwater enters the inlet connection in the side of the filters and is
then drawn through the vertical mesh walls of the filter through adhesion which is
then collected in the storage tank. The water flowing down the surface of the filter
into the drain outlet expels the debris and also the particles that are too large. On

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the whole about 90% of the water that enters the filter is cleaned, filtered and
collected.

The size of the vortex filters will be 0.28mm mesh. In order to achieve efficiency, the
maintenance of this filter is necessary so it should be cleaned for every 2 to 3 months
depending on the situation.

Figure 4h – Diagram of Vortex

Filters and how it works.

Floating Suction Filters:

Floating suction filter consists of a polyethylene ball float and a fine mesh filter
together with a non return valve which is fitted to the end of the suction pipe. The
design of the filter is made in such a way that the water is drifted towards
the centre of the unit. The housing for the fine filter is made from
high grade stainless steel.

Figure 4i – Floating suction

filter.

The size of the mesh is 0.23mm which prevents the entry of large particles into the
unit. The mechanism of floating ball is that it rises and falls in accordance with the
water level ensuring that the water is extracted from the point where it is cleanest
which is usually just below the surface and away from the bottom of tank where
there is a chance for the heavier particles to accumulate. There should be at least a
gap of 20mm between the suction pipe and the sediment. The floating ball is fitted
with a lifting eye and the non return valve allows a permanent column of water in
the suction line, so that the pump doesn’t have to build up a new column each time
it starts. The unit can be lifted for cleaning purposes through the use of rot proof
cord and can be maintained effectively.

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These 3 types of Filters which will be used in our water supply system for Bendee
Downs along with the pressure pump, will minimise as much as possible any
contamination going into the water ensuring a sustainable and improved quality of
life for the rural community.

4.2 Underground Water:

The nearest supply of fresh ground water is from the Great Artesian Basin however
there is a clean source of water underground.

The water underground will have everyday uses for the people such as drinking,
cleaning and showering. The proposed solution to collect underground water will be
a bore dug 45m into the ground.

Although there is contaminated land around the area, it’s doubtful that it has
affected the bore water as no signs of any Arsenic, Fluoride or Nitrate were found.

The extraction of water will be done by a pump pressure system capable of pumping
155 litres a minute enough for the daily uses of the families. Having a bore hole has
many benefits, these include

 Using the Earth’s groundwater for gardens means the precious drinking water
supply is being saved
 A healthy thriving garden adds value to the ‘Bendee Downs’ property
 It’s economical as using bore water saves money as there will be no excess
water usage costs

The basic foundation for the pipelines is provided by a trench which is required to
house the pipes. In case of sandy or loamy soils which are the favourable conditions
for soil, the trench bottom can be constructed without the need for under bedding.
There should not be any depressions left in the trench bottom below the pipe which
can cause damage to the pipe. There should not be an uneven trench bottom; if at all
this happens it should be filled with granular bedding to support the pipeline. The
thickness of the bedding required depends on the irregularity of the trench bottom
and the installation conditions. According to the manufacturer guide, the bed
material should be spread across full trench width to a depth of about 100mm to 150
mm above the highest projection in the trench bottom and compacted to prevent
settlement of the pipeline. The pipeline should sit centrally within the trench with a
minimum of 0.2 diameter or 300mm on either side. There should also be a minimum
of 300mm of compacted ordinary fill above the highest part of the pipeline until
backfill is placed.

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A centrifugal pump will also be used to pump the water to ground level where it will
be stored in a 5000L tank. In a centrifugal pump, the direction of the discharge is at a
right angle to the flow of the suction. When water flows into the pump, it moves
onto an impeller (centrifuge type device). This device spins very quickly around an
axis and the water is discharged at a greater rate and pressure than when it enters
into the pump. The reason for the extra energy is centrifugal force. This allows water
from the bottom of a well to be pumped up to the top of the well with relative ease.
It is a very cost effective solution as well. The top of the bore will have cover plate to
prevent any unwanted attention from animals etc.

Figure 4j –Schematic diagram depicting how underground will be pumped .

4.3 Maintenance:
In order to ensure the success of a project, it not only needs to be constructed with
precision, but it also needs to be maintained regularly to avoid any disruption and to
prevent any component of the system from failure.

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The people from the ‘Bendee Downs’ community should be provided with adequate
knowledge of how to operate, maintain and repair the proposed water system. The
maintenance of the system should be practiced regularly to ensure any component
of the system from breaking down.

Checks and maintenance that will need to be performed include the following.

Storage Tanks:
1. Should be inspected before and after rain for any cracks, dents, holes or leaks.
2. Inspect tank outlet.
3. Should be drained and cleaned annually.

Gutters:
1. The gutters should be checked fortnightly for any leaves blocking the water.
2. Inspect for leaks, obtrusions and deterioration.

Downpipes:
1. Inspect for leaks, blockage
2. Making sure water is flowing without restraint

Pressure Pumps:
1. Need to constantly be checked if enough pressure is going through.
2. As per manufacturer instructions.

Filters:
1. Flow rate must be checked
2. After heavy rain, inspection of the filters should be made ensuring no leaves
or debris is wedged with the mesh.

Bore: The water from the bore being stored in the storage tank should be checked
for water quality or foul smelling odour or any fungi or algae forming inside. The
pipes should be checked for any clogging inside. If there are any problems found with
the pump itself, a qualified electrician should be called.

 The water in the bore should be checked for the following:

 Alkalinity
 Colour of water
 pH
 Taste and odour
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  Dissolved metals and salts
 Micro organisms such as faecal coliform bacteria
 Cryptosporidium, and Giardia Lamblia
 Dissolved metals and metalloids

4.4 Economical Impact:

As ‘Bendee Downs’ is a very rural area, the budget is low. Due to the lack of
economic resources available for this project, every aspect of this project needs to be
as cost effective and efficient as possible.

Every single component of this project was selected due to its cost and high quality.
The sustainability of this project is very important so the finances play a big role and
hence it needs to be allocated very carefully.

In order for this project to be recognised it needs to deliver on the economic side and
on top of that needs to perform well at the same time. All the components chosen
are chosen due to their quality and longevity.

Overall this project delivers excellence due to its low cost and high efficiency.

4.4.1 Costing
Item Description Unit Quantity Rate Total
2 * 7000L tank = $2100
1 Polyethylene Unit 5 1 * 5000L tank = $1352 $4252
tanks 2 * 3000L tank = $800
M 2 * buildings – Shearing shed +
Guttering 167.5 m undercover area = 104.5
2 system perimeter m $585.25
Accommodation = 63m
$7 * 2 m = $14
6m downpipe. $5 per metre downpipe
Approx 150 m = $5 * 6 = $30
distribution $3 per metre
Downpipes + M pipe distribution pipe = 3 *
3 pipes 150 = $450 $480

Filters Downpipe filters =

4 Unit 3 $140.99 $441.71
Vortex filters = $180.72
Floating suction filters=
$120

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 Pressure 2 Tank water pump = $250
5 pumps Unit Bore water pump = $310 $560
Pressure
6 switches and Unit 4 2 for tank water pump = $200
gauges $100
2 for bore water pump =
$100
TOTAL COST = $6518.96

4.5 Social & Environmental Impact

The Kooma people of Bendee Downs have much appreciation for the land that they
occupy. The vicinity was claimed by the Kooma people in 1999 and has ever since
been thoroughly taken care of. The importance of the land and the civilian’s
attachment to it must therefore be taken into account when putting our proposal to
work.

Any environmental impact will thus affect the society all the same. This means that
our wells must be maintained in a way that is sustainable and conservative. Some
properties amongst the Nebine catchments are owned by the Kooma traditional
Owners and are occupied also by wildlife. The Kooma people are working with the
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to learn to protect their water resources and
manage their properties sustainably. These properties consist of creeks and wetlands
that are ecologically important. Therefore it is pivotal that we don’t counteract their
progress by working in an unsustainable matter by ensuring that we carefully map
out and plan the construction process. This means that the locations of the wells
must not be placed to close to the creek or harm the properties along the creek in
any way.

The wells should be situated close to the residential areas, which means that
collectively they wont put the wetlands in any danger and will be close enough for
the residence to access water when necessary. Socially, ensuring that the above is
strictly put in practice, the wells should be a major benefit for the Kooma people of
Bendee downs. As mentioned above, their means of gathering water are currently
limited and it will be much more convenient that a number of wells are constructed
in easy to access locations.

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5. Conclusion
This report has provided an in depth explanation of the solution for the fresh water
supply requirements in the Bendee downs regional hub. The design of the bore well
addresses the requirements outlined in the EWB challenge brief. We considered
alternatives to our design such as designs involving the use of rainwater; however,
our final design was the most appropriate as rainwater isn’t a reliable source of
water since the summer months don’t see enough rain in Bendee Downs. The bore
well will thus prove to be a fresh water supply without fail, all months of the year.

The design is economically suitable and the maintenance requirements are at a

minimum. This is a benefit as it is able to be maintained by the people who live in the
area, rather than hiring a professional and consequently costing the town money.

Finally it is socially acceptable and won’t do any harm to the environment. This may
be the most important factor as the people of Bendee Downs are immensely
concerned with the conservation and culture of their land.

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