Water Distribution

Francis N. Ferrer
Water Distribution System (WDS)
• The objective of WDS is to deliver water to
individual consumers with appropriate quality,
quantity and pressure.
• The distribution system describes collectively the
facilities used to supply water from its source to
the point of usage.
• This may include extensive system of pipes,
storage reservoirs, pumps and related
appurtenances.
• The proper functioning of a water distribution
system is critical to providing sufficient drinking
water to consumers as well as providing sufficient
water for fire protection
Definitions
• Average day demand. The total annual quantity of water
production for an agency or municipality divided by 365.
• Maximum day demand. The highest water demand of the year
during any 24-h period.
• Peak hour demand. The highest water demand of the year
during any 1-h period.
• Peaking factors. The increase above average annual demand,
experienced during a specified time period. Peaking factors are
customarily used as multipliers of average day demand to
express maximum day and peak hour demands.
Definitions
• Distribution pipeline or main. A smaller diameter water
distribution pipeline that serves a relatively small area. Water
services to individual consumers are normally placed on
distribution pipelines. Distribution system pipelines are normally
between 150 and 400 mm (6-16 in.).
• Transmission pipeline or main. A larger-diameter pipeline,
designed to transport larger quantities of water during peak
demand-periods. Water services for small individual consumers
are normally not placed on transmission pipelines. Transmission
mains are normally pipelines larger than 400 mm (16 in.).
Methods of Distributing Water
Depending on the topography between the source and the
consumer the following may be used to transport water to
consumers with adequate pressure:
• Gravity – when the source is at a sufficient elevation above the
consumer to produce the desired pressure. Highly economical
• Pumping – Pumps are used to develop the necessary head
(pressure) to distribute to consumers and storage reservoirs
• Pump-Storage System - storage reservoirs are used to maintain
adequate pressure during periods of high demand and emergency
(fires & power failures). During low consumption, water is
pumped and stored in the storage reservoir.
Capacity Requirements
Typical Distribution of Water Demand (Chin 2000)
When designing a water – Avg
supply system, a major Use(liters/day)/
consideration is the Category person % of Total
population to be served, the
fire flows needed and the Residential 260 40
proximity to the source. Commercial 90 14
Industrial 190 29
Categories of water demand Public 70 10
are given in the table and can Loss 50 7
vary from city to city or 660 100
country to country.
In the Philippines, an average Consuming Water Demand for Trinidad and
household uses about 40 Tobago (WRA)
gallons (151.42 litters) of Category MCM/Yr (2005) % of Total
water per day. Domestic 142 40
Major Industrial 66 18
Minor Industrial 11 3
Irrigation 10 3
Loss 128 36
357 100
Capacity Requirements
• Residential – Typical for third world- 135 lpcd
• Bath – 55 L
• Washing Cloths – 20 L
• WC – 30 L
• Washing House – 10 L
• Washing Utensils – 10 L
• Cooking – 5 L
• Drinking – 5 L
Capacity Requirements - Water Demand

Demand vary throughout the 24hr

period and can range
- from 25-40% of the avg daily
demand between 12.00 to 6.00am

- to as high as 150 to 175%

during morning and evening peak

Demand also vary from year to

year; season to season; day to day
and house to house