WATER SUPPLY,

And Distribution Systems

S.Sathananthan



Stop valve water meter
Ground level
Bend provides
ferrule flexibility
minimum
depth
service pipe of 500 mm
water authority
water mains stop valve
installed and maintained installed and
by water authority maintained by
building owner
Tapping of Water from Main
Modes of Water Supply to Buildings
The three modes of water supply to buildings are as follows :
Mode Height of Appliances Method of Supply
1 Level of highest appliance
less than 25 metres above
MSL
Direct supply to all
appliances.
2 Level of highest appliance
above 25 metres but less than
37 metres above MSL
Indirect supply through
high level storage cistern
3 Level of highest appliance
above 37 metres above MSL
Indirect supply through
low level and high level
storage cisterns with
pumping equipment
1.
25 m Above Mean Sea Level
highest appliance
25 m below MSL
direct supply
from mains
PUB Mains
Mode 1 : Direct Water Supply
Mode 2 : Highest Appliance between 25 and 37
metres MSL

For appliances between 25 and 37 metres MSL, mains
pressure is insufficient to supply water directly during
peak times.

But mains pressure is sufficient during off peak times in
evening.

Hence, a high level storage cistern is required.

It is filled during the evening and supplies water to
building at all times.

High level storage cistern should be of 24 hour storage
capacity.
indirect supply via highest fitting between
high level storage 25 m MSL and 37 m MSL
cistern
37 m Above Mean Sea Level
25 m Above Mean Sea Level
direct supply
from mains
PUB Mains
Mode 2 : In direct water supply to
levels via high level storage cistern to
levels above 25 m MSL but below 37 m
MSL
Mode 3 : Highest Appliance above 37
metres MSL
Used for tall buildings of heights above 37 m which
are beyond reach of direct mains pressure at all times.
Water from mains will first pass to a break cistern or
low level cistern.
Break cistern serves as reservoir and reduces demand
on mains pressure.
Highest fitting above 37 m MSL
indirect supply via High level storage
high level storage cistern
cistern
37 m Above Mean Sea Level
25 m Above Mean Sea Level
low level storage
direct supply cistern
from mains
PUB Mains
duplicate pumps
Mode 3 : Indirect water supply via low level
and high level storage cistern to buildings
above 37 m MSL
level switch A
level switch B
pump stops
pump starts
electrical connections
pump
level starter
switch C panel
PUB pump stops
supply
low level cistern duplicate pumps
Operation of Pumped Systems
High level storage cistern
Stage Two Intermediate
level storage or break cistern
Stage One
Low level storage cistern
Duplicate pumps
Water Distribution using Multi-stage pumping
Boosted Water Distribution
Systems

The top storeys of a building
suffer from low pressures.

Therefore pressure boosting is
required.
Pressure-on-Demand Method
A flow switch is installed in booster pump
system.
Booster pump does not run continuously.
Thus energy is conserved.
When water is required at an appliance,
water flow will cause flow switch to close
and pump will start.
When appliance is shut, flow switch will
open, stopping pump.
Water Cistern pump
starter
panel


PUB Supply
Booster pump runs
only when flow switch is closed appliance
Water distributing pipe flow switch closes
when appliance is used water flow
Boosted Water Distribution System using
Pressure-on-Demand
Flow switch
Water flow
Auto-Pneumatic System
Water is pumped from cistern for
storage in a pressurised air tank.
Water is supplied from air tank
when required by appliances.
The check valve prevents water from
flowing back into water cistern.
air charging valve
Water Cistern pump
starter
panel Air tank

pressure switch
PUB Supply
pump with check valve
appliance
water distributing pipe
water flow

Boosted Water Distribution System using
Auto-pneumatic system
Operation of Auto-Pneumatic System
System consists of tank with diaphragm that
prevents contact between water and air in tank.
Tank initially charged with air through air
charging valve at top.
Pressure switches are electrically linked to pump
starter.
When air pressure in tank is at minimum, pump
starts to operate.

Entry of water into tank forces diaphragm to
rise and air pressure above diaphragm
increases.

When maximum pressure is reached, pressure
switch stops pump.

When tap is opened, air pressure above
diaphragm forces water from tank to tap.

When air pressure in tank reaches minimum,
pressure switch signals pump to start again and
replaces water drawn from tank.
Air compressed by water diaphragm
air tank
Pump charging in water
pressure switch
pump working
appliance may be shut or open
air pushing out
water to appliance Air discharging water
to appliance
to appliance
check valve prevents
water flow to cistern
Operation of Auto-Pneumatic System
Regulating Water Pressure in High-rise
Buildings

To avoid excessive pressures, pressure head at
appliances should be limited to 35 m of water.

This is achieved by using :

intermediate cisterns and pumps

pressure reducing valves

Floors of multi-storey building are zoned by
means of break cisterns or use of pressure
reducing valves.
Water cistern
Arrangement II
One distributing pipe
To lower floors with PRV
At suitable locations
Separate distributing
Pipe to serve only
Top two floors
Arrangement I
Individual distributing
pipes to each zone of
lower floors
PRV
Regulating Pressures in High rise Buildings
Cistern Storage Capacity

Factors affecting water storage
capacity :

number of consumers

type of building

number and types of appliances to
be served
Recommended minimum storage of cold
water for potable purposes :
Type of building Storage in litres/per
occupant/day
Dwelling houses and flats 150
Hostels 90
Hotels 135
Offices without canteens 35
Offices with canteens 45
Schools 15
Air vent with
Mosquito netting
Tight fitting cover
PUB
Supply overflow pipe with
Float valve mosquito netting
water
Supply gauge
isolating valve warning pipe with
mosquito netting
isolating valve
Washout distributing pipe
valve
Wash out pipe covered with
mosquito netting
Water cistern with fittings
Sterilisation Procedure for Storage Cisterns
1. After the cistern is cleaned, water is fed in.
2. Chlorine is then added gradually while the cistern is
being filled to ensure thorough mixing.
3. To sterilise cistern, a dosage of 50 mg of free chlorine
per litre of water has to be added.
4. If bleaching powder with 35 % chlorine concentration
is used, the dosage used should be 150 mg/litre of
water.
5. Sodium hypochlorite solution may be used with
equivalent concentration.
6. During sterilisation, all distributing and discharge
pipes must be closed tight.
7. Water under sterilisation is not safe for
consumption.
8. After filling cistern to overflow level with sterilised
water, it is kept in cistern for 24 hours.
9. Water is then drained off completely and cistern
refilled with potable water.
10. Water samples are then taken for bacteriological
and chemical analysis.
11. Cistern and water can only be put into use after
satisfactory test reports are obtained.