Report Title: Design of Water Distribution System

Presented by: Cristina Marie P. Alfaro

Water Distribution Systems

The pipes and pumps that deliver clean water to our taps. There are more than 32,000 km of
underground water pipes that is enough pipe to circle 80% of the way around the earth
The purpose of distribution system is to deliver water to consumer with appropriate quality,
quantity and pressure. Distribution system is used to describe collectively the facilities used to
supply water from its source to the point of usage.
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

Domestic
Commercial
Industrial
Fire fighting purposes
Requirements of Good Distribution System

Water quality should not get deteriorated in the distribution pipes.

It should be capable of supplying water at all the intended places with sufficient
pressure head.
It should be capable of supplying the requisite amount of water during firefighting.
The layout should be such that no consumer would be without water supply, during the
repair of any section of the system.
All the distribution pipes should be preferably laid one metre away or above the sewer
lines.
It should be fairly water-tight as to keep losses due to leakage to the minimum.
Methods of water distribution
Water is dispersed throughout the distribution system in a number of different ways,
depending on local conditions or on regulations and requirements that influence water system
design. The common methods of water distribution to the pipe network are reviewed under the
following titles.
(1) Gravity distribution: This is possible when the treated water source is a retention pond,
clear well, or storage tank at some needed elevation above the community. In this type of
system, sufficient pressureis available due to gravity to maintain water pressure in the mains
for domestic consumption and fireservice demand. This is the most reliable method of
distribution if the piping leading from the treated water source to the community is adequate in
size and safeguarded against accidental breaks. Higher pressures for firefighting, however,
requires the use of mobile fire department pumpers and, in some cases, stationary booster
pumps on the water system to provide needed fire flows a representative fire hydrants with a
residual pressure of 20 psi.

(2) Pumps and elevated storage: Through the use of pumps and elevated storage, the excess
water pumped during periods of low consumption is stored in elevated tanks or reservoirs.
During periods of high consumption, the stored water supplements the water that is being
pumped. This method allows fairly uniform flow rates and pressures throughout the water
system. Consequently, this method generally is economical because the pumps may be
operated at their rated capacity. Since the stored water supplements the supply used for fires
and system breakdowns, this method of operation is fairly reliable. However, it is necessary
that fire department pumpers be available to boost the pressure from fire hydrant to delivery
water through hose streams at the proper nozzle pressure to confine, control, and extinguish
developing structural fires and other related fire events.
(3) Pumps without storage: When stationary pumps are used to distribute water, and no
storage is provided on the distribution system, the pumps force water at the required volume
and pressure directly into the mains. The outlet for the water is through domestic taps on the
system or through fire hydrants. This is the least desirable type of distribution system because a
power failure could interrupt the water supply. In addition, as consumption varies, the pressure
in the water mains is most likely to fluctuate. To conform to varying rates, several pumps are
made available to add water output when needed, a procedure requiring constant attention at
the water plant. Another disadvantage is the fact that the peak power demand of the water
plant is likely to occur during periods of high electric power consumption, thus increasing
power costs to operate the water system. However, one advantage of direct pumping is that a
large stationary fire pump may be used on demand for structure fires. This pump increases the
residual pressure to any desired amount permitted by the construction of the water mains.
Rates of Water Use
Three historical or predicted water demand rates are involved in the discussion of water system
demand and
design flow rate criteria for both consumer consumption and needed fire flow. These are as
follows:
(1) Average daily consumption: This is the average of the total amount of water used each day
during a 1-year period (usually expressed in million gallons per day, MGD)
(2) Maximum daily consumption: This is the maximum total amount of water used during any
24-hour period in a 3-year period. This number should consider and exclude any unusual and
excessive identified used of water that would affect the calculation. Such abnormal uses would
include a water main break, a large-scale fire, or an abnormal industrial demand. This is often
referred to as the MDC rate.

(3) Maximum hourly demand: This is the maximum amount of water used in any single hour, of
any day, in a 3-year period. It is normally expressed in gallons per day. It is determined in
gallons per day by multiplying the peak hours by 24. This can also be express as MHD.
Distribution System Appurtenances
Piping and valve arrangement: Water systems typically have three classifications of pipe used to
transport to demand points
throughout a community. These are identified as follows:
(1) Primary feeders: These are large pipes, usually with diameters ranging from 12 to 36 inches,
based
on the size of the population served. Primary feeders transport water form the water treatment
plant
to corporation line of the community and/or to major water storage locations within the
community.
(2) Secondary feeders: These are connected to the primary feeders to transport water along
the major
streets of the community. Secondary feeders need to be in place to supply all commercial
property,
public buildings, and private sector buildings that have a needed fire flow over 1,000 gpm.
Secondary
feeders typically are 10 to 16 inches in diameter.
(3) Distributor mains: These are used to transport water from the secondary feeders to
individual streets
in the areas of the community that have small businesses like convenience stores and gas
stations but,
more importantly, along residential streets. The minimum pipe size should be 6 inches and,
based on
the system design, a possible dead- end pipe may need to be 8 or even 10 inches.

Layouts of Distribution Network

The distribution pipes are generally laid below the road pavements, and as such their layouts
generally follow the layouts of roads. There are, in general, four different types of pipe networks;
any one of which either singly or in combinations, can be used for a particular place. They are:
Grid, Ring, Radial and Dead End System.
Grid Iron System:
It is suitable for cities with rectangular layout, where the water mains and branches are laid in
rectangles.

Advantages:

Water is kept in good circulation due to the absence of dead ends.

In the cases of a breakdown in some section, water is available from some other direction.
Disadvantages

Exact calculation of sizes of pipes is not possible due to provision of valves on all branches.
Ring System:
The supply main is laid all along the peripheral roads and sub mains branch out from the mains.
Thus, this system also follows the grid iron system with the flow pattern similar in character to
that of dead end system. So, determination of the size of pipes is easy.

Advantages:

Water can be supplied to any point from at least two directions.

Radial System:
The area is divided into different zones. The water is pumped into the distribution reservoir kept
in the middle of each zone and the supply pipes are laid radially ending towards the periphery.

Advantages:

It gives quick service.

Calculation of pipe sizes is easy.
Dead End System:
It is suitable for old towns and cities having no definite pattern of roads.

Advantages:

Relatively cheap.
Determination of discharges and pressure easier due to less number of valves.
Disadvantages

Due to many dead ends, stagnation of water occurs in pipes.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Diameter 80 mm. For pipes with fire hydrants 100 mm.

Velocity > 0.6 m/sec. Common range is 1.0 - 1.5 m/sec. If velocity < 0.6 m/sec (due to
minimum diameter limit) then drain valve is used on that pipe.
Minimum pressure at the top of the highest floor of a building is about 5m. According to
ller Bankas Regulation: Population 50000 then (P/)min =20 m
Population 50000 then (P/)min =30 m It is assumed that tower buildings have their own
booster pump. Maximum static pressure = (P/)max =80 mwc (commonly). Design flow rate =
Qmax_hr + Qfire Q fire: According to ller Bankas Regulation, fire flow and fire storage amount
can be calculated as; If the future population 10000 Fire flow for main line = 5 L/sec Fire flow
for sub-mains = 5 L/sec Fire flow for branches = 2.5 L/sec It is assumed that 1 fire with a duration
of 2 hours then amount of water necessary for firefighting in the service reservoir:
If 10000 < the future population 50000 Fire flow for main line = 10 L/sec Fire flow for sub-mains = 5 L/sec
Fire flow for branches = 2.5 L/sec It is assumed that 2 fires with a duration of 2 hours then amount of
water necessary for firefighting in the service reservoir:

If the future population 50000 Fire flow for main line = 20 L/sec Fire flow for sub-mains = 10 L/sec Fire
flow for branches = 5 L/sec It is assumed that 2 fires with a duration of 5 hours then amount of water
necessary for firefighting in the service reservoir:

Fire hydrants are used on sub-mains to provide a connection for fire hoses to fight fire. Fire hydrants
should be located at easily accessible locations. In Turkey, length of fire hosed is about 50-75m.
Therefore, distance between fire hydrants is about 100-150m. Sub-mains should be divided into sections
and valves should be provided in each, so that any section may be taken out of operation for repairs. For
this purpose, gate valves are usually used. 3 gate valves are used at all crosses. 2 gate valves are used
at al tees. To remove air from pipelines or to allow automatic air entrance when the pipeline is emptied
(in order to prevent vacuum), air release and relief valves are placed at high points.