WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

DEFINITION: Distribution system is a network of

pipelines that distribute water to the consumers.
They are designed to adequately satisfy the
water requirement for a combination of
1.
2.
3.
4.

Domestic
Commercial
Industrial
Fire fighting purposes.

Basic System Requirements

Pressure:
Pressure should be great enough to adequately meet
consumer and fire-fighting needs.
Pressure should not be excessive:
Cost consideration
Leakage and maintenance increase

Basic System Requirements

Purity of distributed water should be maintained.
Maintenance of the distribution system should be easy and
economical.
Water should remain available during breakdown periods
of pipeline.

Methods of Distribution
1. Gravity system: When source or water treatment
plant is located at a higher elevation and desired
pressure is available. It is most reliable and
economical and no extra energy is required.
2. Pumping System: When source of water supply or
treatment plant is located at a lower level or in the
same level as the distribution system. It is a costly
method and depend on power supply.
3. Combined System: This method is combination of
both of the above methods. First water is pumped to
elevated reservoir and then it is distributed with the

Methods of Water Supply

1. Continuous Supply: In this system water is available for all the
time. This is ideal system and has advantages like no storage is
required, pipe size are smaller, water remains fresh as there is no
stagnation of water. Disadvantages of this system are that wastage
of water is more due to leakages, this system require more water.
2. Intermittent Supply: In this system water is supplied only during
fixed shifts in day and evening. Advantages are that water is
utilized very carefully, wastage of water due to leakage is less, and
repair can be done is non supply hour. The disadvantages are that
negative pressure may develop during non supply hour and this
may result in pollution, large storage systems are required, etc.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS LAYOUT

A. Branching pattern with dead end.
B. Grid pattern
C. Grid pattern with branch

Branching pattern with dead end

Branching pattern with dead end

Advantages
It is a very simple method of water distribution.
Calculations are easy and simple to do.
The required dimensions of the pipes are economical.
This method requires comparatively less number of cutoff valves.

Branching pattern with dead end

Disadvantages
The area receiving water from a pipe under repair is without water
until the work is completed.
In this system, there are large number of dead ends where water
does not circulate but remains static
It is difficult to maintain chlorine residual at the dead ends of the pipe
Water available for fire-fighting will be limited since it is being
supplied by only one water main.
The pressure at the end of the line may become undesirably low as
additional areas are connected to the water supply system

Grid Pattern

Grid Pattern
Advantages
Since water in the supply system is free to flow in more than
one direction, stagnation does not occur as readily as in the
branching pattern.
In case of repair or break down in a pipe, the area connected to
that pipe will continue to receive water, as water will flow to
that area from the other side.
Water reaches all points with minimum head loss.
At the time of fires, by manipulating the cut-off valves, plenty of
water supply may be diverted and concentrated for fire-fighting

Grid Pattern
Disadvantages
Cost of pipe laying is more because relatively more
length of pipes is required.
More number of valves are required.
The calculation of pipe sizes are more complicated

Grid pattern with branch