CENG 4607, Water supply and Sewerage Lecture Note (ASTU, 2005 E.

C)

6. Organization of water Supply and Sewage Projects

6.1. Water supply system planning

Water supply system planning involves identification of service needs, evaluation of options,
determination of optimal strategy to meet services, and development of implementation
strategies. The planning exercise involves collection of pertinent data, consideration of relevant
factors, and preparation of project documents and cost estimates.

Required data sets

a) Geological data: Geological data and survey of ground water is done in the vicinity of the
area, to know the quantity of available water at various depths in the ground.
b) Hydrological data: The hydrological and the available surface water sources data in the
vicinity of the area are collected to determine the quantity of water available in the surface
sources.
c) Sanitary conditions of the area: The sanitary condition of the area and data regarding
possible sources of water pollution are collected for deciding the preventive measures
against them.
d) Topography of the area: Survey works are done to prepare the topographical map of the
area, showing elevation of the various points, density of population in the different zones.
This map helps in deciding the position of intake works and treatment plants type of
system to be adopted for conveyance and distribution of water.
e) Legal requirements: Applicable legal requirements like land use, social and environmental
considerations, etc.
f) Public opinion: Data on the public opinions are also collected, regarding the project.
g) Level of water demand: Current and future demands of water.
h) Existing water supply system: If the project is concerned with expansion of the existing
water supply scheme, the details of collection, conveyance, treatment and distribution
systems should be thoroughly studied. The spare capacity of the existing water works
should also be utilised.
Factors to be considered:
The following factors should be considered and kept in mind during preparation of the water
supply design project:
i) Population. Factors affecting the future increase in the population are to be studied and taken
into account while determining the future population for the design work.
ii) Per capita Requirement. The per capita demand of water should be determined by taking into
account the various factors and will be according to the living standard of the public and the
number and type of industries, number and type of the commercial establishments in the town
etc.
iii) Public places, parks, institutions etc. Water is required for the development of parks, fire
fighting and so many other purposes at public places.

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CENG 4607, Water supply and Sewerage Lecture Note (ASTU, 2005 E.C)
iv) Industries. The water requirement of the existing industries as well as future industries should
be thoroughly determined and, provision made in the project accordingly.
v) Sources of water. Detailed survey of the various sources of water available in the vicinity of
the area should be made. Survey of the existing sources should also be made. In case the
present source of water is well, which cannot cater for future needs, alternative water source
should be considered.
vi) Conveyance of water. Conveyance of water from source to water treatment units depend on
the relative levels of the two points. It may flow directly by gravity, if source is at higher
elevation. In case pumping is required, then the capacity of the pumps should be determined.
vii)Quality of water. The analysis of the raw water quality should be made to know the various
impurities present in it, and to decide on the required treatment processes.
viii)Treatment works. The various sizes and number of treatment units in the water works
depend on the quality and quantity of raw water and the limiting water quality standards.
ix) Pumping units for treated water. The pump-house is designed by considering the future
population water demand. The required number of pumps is installed in the pump house for
the present water pumping requirement, with provision of 50% stand-by pumps for
emergency.
x) Storage. The entire city or town should be divided into several pressure zones and storage
facility should be provided in each zone. The altitude of the storage facility should ensure
supply of water at the required pressure.
xi) Distribution system. The distribution system should be designed according to the master plan
of the town, keeping in mind the future development. The design of the main should be based
on peak hour demands. The design of the pipes should also take into account the fire demand.
xii)Economy and reliability. The water supply scheme should be economical and reliable. It
should draw sufficient quantity of water from the source at cheapest cost and the purification
should meet desired limits.
Project documents:
In general the following drawings of the project are prepared and used for estimating the cost and
execution of the project:
 Topographical Map: Showing roads, location of water sources, limits of the town with its
roads, layout of pipes from the source to water works etc. at a scale of 1:500
 Site Plan: Showing the location of the scheme and the area to be served is also prepared at a
scale of 1: 500
 Contour Map: The contour map or plan of the entire area is prepared at a scale of 1: 100,
showing the location of water mains, sub-mains, branches, valves, fire hydrants, pumping
stations, service reservoirs, roads, streets etc.
 Flow Diagrams: The flow diagram of the entire scheme is prepared showing the sequence of
operations and all aspects of the scheme. The approximate sizes of purification and
distribution mains are also given on these diagrams.
 Detailed Drawings: The detailed drawings of the various units and components of the scheme
are prepared.

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CENG 4607, Water supply and Sewerage Lecture Note (ASTU, 2005 E.C)
The cost of a water supply project depends on the types of water sources, length of rising mains,
required treatment processes, pumping and storage facilities, distribution system etc. The cost of
various parts of the water supply schemes may be taken approximately as follows for guidance.
Table 6.1 Approximate percentage costs of water supply components
S.N Items Cost (% of the total cost)
1 Pumping stations 18 %
2 Storage facilities 6%
3 Treatment plants 10 %
4 Distribution system 50 %
5 Intakes and buildings 2%
6 Source development 9%
7 Water meters and other contingencies 5%
Total 100 %
Note: The above percentages are for guidance and can be used for preparation
of preliminary estimates for administrative approval

A preliminary report for the purpose of determining the most economical, dependable, and safe
community water supply should be prepared. The contents of the report may cover the following
areas:
 existing water supply facilities and need for expansion
 design periods
 population projections, water consumption projections, and design capacities
 water quality objectives and source selection
 site selection for intake, treatment plant and conveyance systems
 Evaluation of raw water quality and treatment processes
 Preliminary design and cost estimates
 Recommended capital improvement plan
 Environmental impact assessment

6.2. Sewer system Planning

6.2.1. Collecting existing information, focusing particularly on maps and plans of the area
to be sewered and adjacent areas.

The first task in the planning process is to collect all available information on the area to be
sewered. In particular, existing topographical maps and any maps showing the routes of existing
drains and sewers should be collected, as these are needed to define the area to be sewered and
determine the overall sewer layout. This information may be available on a number of maps and
plans; if this is the case, as much information as possible should be transferred to one base plan.

6.2.2. Determine the area to be included in the sewerage plan, based on topography, the
location of the existing sewers and the limits of existing and future development.

The next step is to decide the area to be included in the scheme. There are two possible
situations. The first is that the design is for an exclusively local system, which can be connected
to a local treatment facility or an existing collector sewer. The second is that there is a need to
look at the sewerage needs of a wider area, including both local sewers and public collector
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CENG 4607, Water supply and Sewerage Lecture Note (ASTU, 2005 E.C)
sewers. In the first case, the decision on the area to be included in the scheme is relatively
straightforward. In general, its boundaries will coincide with those of the existing or planned
housing scheme that is to be sewered. The main task will be to determine the routes of the
internal sewers and the points at which they will discharge to a treatment site or existing sewer.

The second situation is more complicated in that the boundaries of the area to be drained by the
collector sewers may not be immediately obvious. The important point is to insure that the
overall situation is taken into account, as defined by natural drainage areas, the location of
existing sewers and possible treatment/disposal locations. The boundaries of natural drainage
areas should be fairly obvious in hilly or undulating areas. They may be much less obvious
where the topography is flat. Where this is the case, the routes of existing natural watercourses,
drains and sewers will give a good idea of existing drainage patterns. By plotting existing drains
on a suitable plan (typically at a scale of between 1:2000 and 1:10,000, depending on availability
and the area to be sewered), the approximate boundaries of drainage areas and the main drainage
paths should be able to be defined. As this context plan is developed, any land that might be
available for local treatment should be identified. This allows the relationship between the
scheme area and possible treatment/disposal facilities and sites to be explored. This in turn
enables the possible advantages of enlarging the scheme to cover surrounding areas to be
assessed.

6.2.3. Develop a draft sewerage plan, showing the routes of the main collector sewers and
the approximate areas of the sewerage systems.

It should now be possible to develop a draft sewerage plan. Whether this covers a local system or
the sewerage needs of a wider area, the same basic principles apply. Sewers should be routed as
close as possible to natural drainage routes, while taking into account existing land development
and ownership patterns. In general collector sewers should be routed in public rights of way
which are close as possible to natural drainage routes. Where an existing drainage channel is
located along a narrow right of way between existing houses, the sewer should preferably be
rerouted along adjacent roads where there is better access for maintenance. This first step is to
decide the routes of the main public collector sewers and then consider how local sewer systems
can be joined to them. In general, public collector sewers should be designed to include flows
from all parts of the drainage area that are or are likely to be sewered. Failure to do this will
mean that the sewers will be undersized, if not immediately then certainly in the future. Once the
routes of the main public collector sewers are decided, preliminary proposals can be made for the
routes of local sewer systems. It is possible that as this is done, minor adjustments to the routes
of the main sewers may need to be made.

6.2.4. Undertake additional surveys as required to allow sewer routes and the areas to be
confirmed, so that detailed design can be carried out.

Physical and social surveys

If accurate survey information is not available, detailed physical and social surveys are generally
required. Each is briefly considered in turn below.

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CENG 4607, Water supply and Sewerage Lecture Note (ASTU, 2005 E.C)
Physical surveys
Physical surveys are required in order to determine sewer routes and levels. If existing plans
exist, it may be possible to use them, at least for preliminary design. However, checks on their
accuracy should always be made and they must be updated to include any developments that
have taken place since they were produced. Where plans are non-existent or insufficiently
detailed, additional surveys will be required to provide information on the overall layout of the
area. A full triangulated survey will normally be necessary for larger areas, although there may
be the possibility of developing a municipal base-map from satellite image or areal photographs.

Context plans showing the overall drainage situation should normally be at a scale of 1:2000 or
1:5000. Smaller scale plans may be necessary to show the city wide situation. These should show
rights of way, the routes of public collector sewers and the limits of natural drainage areas. They
do not need to show individual plots, although it will be useful if they distinguish between built
up and non-built up areas. Plans for detailed sewer design should normally be at a scale of 1:500
or 1:1000. If sewers are to be routed in public rights of way, the plans should show the frontages
of individual plots. (Normally the full plot will be shown but the boundaries between plots do not
have to be accurately shown.)

Levels are required for detailed sewer design. Where sewers are located in public rights of way,
levels should be taken at every intersection and at intervals of perhaps 20-25 meters along roads
and access paths. House plinth levels should also be recorded. It is not necessary to record every
plinth level; rather the focus should be on the lowest plinth since these will be critical to the
sewer design. Where the possibility of using an in-block system exists, levels will also be
required within plots along possible sewer routes. The plinth levels of existing sanitation
facilities, particularly those located at the back of plots may also have to be recorded.

Social surveys
Simple social surveys should be used to provide information on household sizes and incomes,
existing sanitation and water supply facilities, attitudes to sanitation and user preferences.
Questionnaire surveys are useful for providing quantitative information. Semi-structured
interviews and focused group discussions are more likely to provide information on attitudes and
preferences. The options for management can be explored in community meetings, although it
will be wise to back these up with smaller meetings with particular groups. This is because
minority viewpoints may not emerge in open community meetings. It will be particularly
important to explore the degree of cooperation present within the community when in-block
sewers are being considered. This is because the sewers pass through private property and it will
be necessary to negotiate agreements on access for routine maintenance and dealing with
blockages and other problems. Ideally, there should be some form of written agreement between
the households concerned regarding the sewer. Where this is not possible, there should at the
very list be a strong verbal agreement, agreed in a community meeting and backed by the leaders
of the community. If surveyors reveal uncertainty about the degree of cohesion present within
the community, it will probably be wiser to route sewers in public rights of way.

6.2.5. Finalize the overall sewerage plan and plot the sewer routes at an appropriate scale
or scales.
Once good survey information has been obtained, it can be recorded on suitable plans and
detailed design of the system can commence. Minor changes to the routes of collector sewers
may be required as a result of improved survey information.