CE 317

Engineering Utilities 2
ENGR. ERVIN JOHN D. MELENDRES
INSTRUCTOR
LESSON 2
Objectives
• Water Supply and Water Sources
• Community and Private water supply
systems
• Basic Principles of Sanitary/Plumbing
Design
LETS TALK ABOUT
WATER SUPPLY
Remember that a supply of good water is more
important to human survival than food. Potable is clean
water that is suitable for human drinking. It must be
available for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
Nonpotable water may be used for flushing water
closets (toilets), irrigating grass and gardens, washing
cars, and for any use other than drinking, cooking, or
cleaning. An abundant supply of potable water that is
easily distributed is vital to a prosperous economy.
WATER SOURCES

By definition, there are two water sources in which

water is taken from. Surface water is the rain that runs
off the surface of the ground into streams, rivers, and
lakes. Groundwater is water found below the surface of
the earth. It is water that has percolated through porous
soil until it reaches an impervious stratum, upon which it
collects.
WATER SOURCES
Surface water - Is any body of water above ground,
including streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, reservoirs, and
creeks. The ocean, despite being saltwater, is also
considered surface water.
WATER SOURCES

Ground water - is the water

present beneath Earth's
surface in soil pore spaces and
in the fractures of rock
formations. A unit of rock or an
unconsolidated deposit is
called an aquifer when it can
yield a usable quantity of
water.
WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEMS
In large metropolitan areas, most of the
drinking water originates from a surface source
such as a lake, stream, river, or reservoir. In
rural areas, people are more likely to drink
groundwater that was pumped from a well. The
design of any building water supply system
begins with an evaluation of the system from
which the water will be obtained.
WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEMS
Community Water Supply Systems - are public
or private entities that install and provide a central
supply of water to a neighborhood, city or special
district.
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS
Before proceeding with the design of the water
supply, the following information should be obtained
and evaluated:

1. What is the exact location of the water main

(pipe) in relation to the construction site?

2. If the main is on the other side of the street from

the construction site, what procedures must be
followed to get permission (in writing) to cut
through the street, set up barricades, and patch
the street?
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS
3. What permits are required from local authorities,
how much do the permits cost, and who will
inspect the work and when?

4. If the water main does not run to the

construction site, can it be extended from its
present location to the property? Who pays for
the extension? How long will it take?

5. Is there a charge to connect (tap) onto the

community system?
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS
6. What is the water pressure in the main?
• A storage tank and pump may be required to
raise the pressure if the pressure is too low.
• Water pressure that is too high will probably
require a pressure-reducing valve in the
system to decrease the pressure to an
acceptable level.

7. What is the cost of the water?

WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEMS
Private Water Supply Systems – Private systems
may also use any of the water sources discussed.
Most private water is drawn from groundwater through
wells
PRIVATE SYSTEMS

Large industrial and commercial projects may

draw all of their supply from one source (e.g., a
stream) or they may draw part of their supply from
one source (such as a stream) and supplement
the supply with another source (e.g., a well). Such
systems often include treatment plants, water
storage towers, and sometimes reservoirs to store
the water.
PRIVATE SYSTEMS

Small private systems, such as those used

for residences, usually rely on a single source
of water to supply potable water to the system.
Installing a well is the most commonly used
method of obtaining a source of water.
WELL SYSTEMS
A modern well system consists of a well, a
motor-driven pump, and a storage tank. In most
systems, the pump draws water from the well where
it is stored in a storage tank.

Types of Wells
Wells are classified according to their depth and the
method used to construct the well:
COMMON WELL
SYSTEMS
There are three common types of water wells: dug,
driven, and bored/drilled.

Dug Wells - Dug wells are

shallow wells, generally not
more than 25 ft (7.6 m) deep,
and typically 3 to 6 ft (1 to 2 m)
in diameter. They are typically
made by excavation with a
backhoe or excavator but can
be hand shoveled, as this was
the method typically used for
hundreds of years.
COMMON WELL
SYSTEMS
Driven Wells - Driven wells,
also referred to as sand point
wells, consist of lengths of
11⁄4 to 2 in (32 to 50 mm)
diameter pipe that is driven
into the ground. In driving this
type of well, a sharp well
point and drive cap are
attached to a pipe.
COMMON WELL
SYSTEMS
Drilled/Bored Wells - Drilling
or boring methods are used
for deep wells. A well-drilling
rig is used to create the well
hole. Drilled wells have the
holes formed by using rotary
bits. Bored wells have the
holes formed by using an
auger and covered with a
casing.
WELL PUMPS
Pumps are used to bring well water to the surface.
Well pumps are referred to as shallow well and deep
well, depending on the type and depth of well.
There are two general types of well pumps:
submersible well pumps and jet pumps.
WELL PUMPS
Well Jet Pumps The well jet pump combines centrifugal
and ejection pumping. In addition to a motor, impeller, and
diffuser, the jet pump includes a jet (ejector) assembly that
consists of a nozzle and venturi tube. Jet pumps are
self-priming, prior to initial use is required for the pump to
operate.

• Shallow well jet pumps are used for wells with a

pumping level up to 25ft (7.6m) deep, which is the
pump’s suction lift limit. It has no working parts
submerged in water.

• Deep well jet pumps can be used for wells with a

pumping level up to 120ft (37m) deep.
WELL PUMPS

Submersible Well Pumps Submersible well

pumps are centrifugal pumps designed to operate
submersed in water near the bottom end of the well
shaft. It is typically used in wells with a pumping
level of at least 75ft (23m) deep. The pump is
submerged into the well water, usually to about 20ft
(6m) from the bottom of the well.
WELL TANKS
Water drawn from a well is pumped into a storage
tank where it is stored for use by building occupants.
Elevated storage tanks are discussed later.
WATER TOWERS &
ELEVATED STORAGE
TANKS
Water towers used in community systems and elevated
water storage tanks used in private systems carry a reserve
capacity of water. They serve many additional purposes,
including what follows:
• To introduce pressure to the water supply system
• To equalize supply and demand over periods of high
consumption
• To supply water during equipment failure or maintenance
• To supply water for firefighting demand
PIPPING MATERIALS