Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr.

Shuokr Qarani Aziz

WATER SUPPLYAND SEWERAGE

Figure 1: Water supply Engineering

1
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

Figure 2: Illustration of sewerage systems

FUNDAMENTALCONSIDERATION OF WATER SUPPLY SOURCES

1) WATER CYCLE IN NATURE

The water exists in nature in several forms such as:
a) Solid status: snow, ice, ice bergs in North and South Poles.
b) Liquid status: Surface and groundwater.
c) Gases: such as humidity (moisture in air).

2
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

Figure 3: The natural water cycle

2) RAIN FALL AND SURFACE RUNOFF

2.1) RAIN FALL (PRECIPITATION)
Precipitation (such as rain, snow, hail etc.) is a source of surface and groundwater. Quantity of
rain fall is not constant at any specific places, because there are many uncountable factors
affecting the amount of rain fall. But, there are major factors which affect in some places on the
amount of rain falls. These factors are:
i) How far from the oceans.
ii) Elevation according to sea level.
iii) Geographical location.
The amount of rain fall can be measured by rain gages.
2.2) SURFACE RUNOFF
It is important to know the amount of surface run-off. But due to a number of factors it cannot be
calculated exactly.
Surface runoff= Precipitation – Percolation–Evaporation
There are some empirical equations which can be used in specific areas to estimate the amount of
surface runoff. Practically, surface runoff for a specific area can be estimated by finding
parameters such as surface runoff coefficient for the area. Surface runoff coefficient can be
defined as the ratio of surface runoff from an area to the total rainfall on the same area in a fixed

3
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

interval of time. Surface runoff coefficient changes from one place to other places and it
commonly depends on the following factors.
i) Catchment area: Small or large area.
ii) Characteristics of the catchment area: Slope, vegetation, material etc.
iii) Intensity of rain fall.
iv) Shape of catchment area.
v) Intervals of rain fall.
The amount of surface runoff can be determined using the following equation:
Q C*I *A
Q= discharge (m3/s), C= surface runoff coefficient (given in Refs.), A= catchment area (m2), and
i= intensity of rain fall (m/h)

Figure 4: Catchment areas

3) QUANTITY OF WATER IN NATURE

Water quantity in nature is very huge. Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface and is vital for all
known forms of life. The amount estimated to be 1360*106 km3. Among that only 2.5%
(34*106km3) of the total Earth's amount water is fresh water.

Fresh water =2.5% (34*106 km3)

0.238*106 km3≈ 0.7 % 9.968*106 km3≈29.8 % 23.8*10 6 km3 ≈70 %

Fresh water on the surface and As moisture in the air and soil, As a solid state in both Poles and
groundwater and transpirates on high mountains

4
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

The amount of fresh water decreases due to:

i) Increase in population as well as increase in the amount of water needed per person
ii) Increase in food production
iii) Increase in industrial production
iv) Lack in regulation for using and water pollution

4) SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY

4.1) SURFACE SOURCES
It is most practical and economical source of water supply. To select the suitable source for
water supply the following factors to be considered:
i) Location and elevation of the source.
ii) Quantity of water in the source.
iii) Quality of water in the source.
iv) Cost of the system.

The available surface water sources for water supply projects are:
1) Lakes
There are two types of lakes; the first kind is a natural lake which mostly exists in mountains
areas or sometimes in plain areas. The second type is impounded reservoir which performed by
constructing weir or a dam across the rivers or streams. It constructs at suitable places to
submerge minimum areas. In addition, the bed of basin should be stable with minimum porosity
of the soil. Normally, surface water stores during rainy seasons and amount of inflow should be
greater than percolated and evaporated waters. The smaller lakes have high risks for pollution
than the larger lakes. Thus, the quality of the large lakes is better than small lakes.
The quantity of water in the lakes depends on:
 Basin capacity
 Catchment area
 Annual precipitation
 Porosity of the soil
 Evaporation
The advantages of impounded reservoirs /lakes are:
 To store surface water
 Balancing river water levels during rain and dry seasons
 Agriculture purposes

5
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

 Generating electricity power

 Increasing fish production
 Tourism purpose
 Source for water supply

2) RIVERS AND STREAMS

Usually developments of cites and town are occur along the river banks. Large rivers are used for
water supply source, the sewage from the city are disposed to the rivers as well. Generally, the
source of water in the rivers is precipitation (groundwater provides water to a specified levels).
Characteristics of water in rivers depend on the source of water and season. In the rain seasons,
the amount of impurities is high due to surface runoff. The impurities are suspended and
dissolved solids, they are organic and inorganic. In dry seasons, the amount of suspended solids
in the rivers is less than the dissolved solids.

b) GROUNDWATER SOURCES
The source of groundwater is percolated precipitation to the ground. Groundwater can be used as
a source of water supply if the surface water does not exist or it is not enough. Normally,
groundwater is used as a water source for supplying water to small cities.
Advantages of groundwater are:
 No need for purification, the only process is disinfection. It has good quality (free of
suspended solids due to infiltration) when compared with surface water sources.
 The temperature is relatively constant.
The quantity of stored water depends on:
 Amount of precipitation
 Capacity of bearing layers
 Geological formation of layers (permeability)

Types of groundwater for water supply are:

1) WELLS
It is a vertical hole made in the ground surface to reach groundwater.
Capacity of the well depends on:
 Porosity of the bearing layers
 The quantity of water stored in the layers

6
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

Figure 5: Details of groundwater

Types of wells are:

1- Shallow wells
2- Deep wells
3- Artesian wells

2) SPRINGS
It is a groundwater flows through small holes usually at hills along river banks.

3) INFILTRATION GALLERIES
It is a horizontal slopped tunnel which constructed through the water bearing layers about 5 to 15
m below ground surface. Materials used are bricks and stone. The roof of tunnel is in arch shape.
The galleries are provided with vertical wells for inspection and maintenance.

7
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

Figure 6: Details of infiltration gallery

8
Water Supply and Sewerage, 2018-2019 Fundamental Consideration… Asst. Prof. Dr. Shuokr Qarani Aziz

5) OTHER SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY

Increasing in water consumption and decreasing the amount of fresh water in future are factors
for finding other sources for water supply in some places.

a) DESALINATION OF SEA WATER

In some places when fresh water is not available in a sufficient amount, the amounts of dissolved
salts in the sea water decreases to an acceptable level that can be used for some domestic
purposes.
b) TRANSPORTING ICE BLOCKS FROM THE POLES

c) COLLECTING RAIN WATER

d) RE-USE OF TREATED WASTEWATERS

 It can be used for irrigation and washing purposes
 It can be mixed with the surface water
 It can be disposed to ground surface