Water Distribution System

Credit to ;Dr Faridah Muhd Halil

Sr Dr. Irwan Mohammad Ali
• Introduction

• This chapter explain on the method of water distribution system from

the water treatment plant to the consumer. Figure 5 shows the
process of water distribution from the sources of water until supply
to the consumers.

Sources of water treatment plant Distribution pipes supply to

consumer
Method of water distribution to consumers
• The method of distribution of water to consumer start from storage
system from at treatment plant and distribute through the
distribution pipes and lastly supply to the consumers.
• The system consists of;
a. Water storage system
b. Layout or network system
c. Plumbing System
Water Storage System
The water distribution to the consumer was design according to the
topography and the amount of demand of water users to the certain area.
From the main pipe of water, the supply of water will be store at a service
reservoir. A service reservoir has four (4) main functions as below;
a) To balance the fluctuating demand from the distribution system,
permitting the source to give steady water supply to consumers;
b) To give suitable pressure for the water supply ;
c) To provide a supply during a failure or shutdown of treatment plant;
d) To provide a reserve of water to for emergency demands such as for
fire fighting.
Water Storage System
There are three (3) types of reservoir or water storage system practice
in this country. The system are;
a. Large storage reservoir ( at main such as dam)
b. Service Reservoir (Located at any development area, nearest to
the main road )
c. Distribution Reservoir ( small water storage tank, roof top,
building/housing)
Service Reservoir
• Service reservoir should capable to supply of water in between 24
hour period. The engineer of water supply should have a knowledge
on the designing of capacity of storage of water supply according to
the demand at the certain area.
• Types of service reservoir can be divided into two (2) categories :
1) underground reservoir/ground level,
2) elevated reservoir.
Underground and Elevated Reservoir
2) Elevated Water Tank

Provided within the water distribution system to

supply peak demands for the need from the user in
the housing development. The operation the system;
the water is pumped into the service reservoir during
low demand hours and drawn out during the peak
demand hours from the user. When pressure in the
mains drop (from increased water demand, water is
automatically feed into them and pressure is
maintained. It’s also provides storage for fire fighting
and for meeting emergency water demands (during
power failure, repair and maintenance).
Storage water system
• The methods of storage water system for service reservoir are as
follow;

a) Gravity Distribution
b) Pumped System, and
c) Combination Gravity and Pumping System
FIGURE 6.0 Gravity Distribution
 Gravity Distribution
• Gravity distribution, the location of service reservoir at higher location and need to
distribute of water at low level of location. This system, sufficient pressure is
available due to gravity to maintain water pressure and supply for domestic
consumption and fire service demand.
Advantages
a) This type of system gives the oppurtunity to develop a very reliable water
supply system at higher level to low level;
b) Does not required pumping station, the water supply distribute through
gravity system to the consumers;
c) Very economical system that no requirement of electricity supply for
distribution of water to the consumers.
Disadvantages
a) Only suitable for hilly area and mountain regions;
b) Overloaded of water storage in reservoir will affected to the consumers at low
level if burst occur at a tank of reservoir.
PUMP SYSTEM
Pump System

• This system is not desirable, as it relies on electricity and in case of

power failure, the entire distribution to the locality could be shut off.
• Water is pumped directly into the distribution system to achieve the
required pressure.
• The advantages of this system pumps required varying speeds
according to the variations in the consumption and requires regular
supervision by attendance.
Pumping and Gravity System
 Gravity and Pumping System
• This method required method of distribution of water supply received from low level and
need to storage of water at higher level. From this, the supply of water will distribute at
low level area.
• This system require a pumping station to transport water from the low level to the service
tank at hilly area.
• From the service or elevated storage the water is distribute to the consumers at low level
by using gravity system.
• This system is called as a Combination Gravity and Pumping System.
• Water is supplied by a combination of pumping and gravity system. This type of distribution
depending on the topography of the distribution area.
• A suitable adequate pressure is needed to supply the water to the area and it’s depend on
the factors of height to which water is required to be supplied, fire fighting requirements,
populations at the area and availability of funds.

Advantages
a) Suitable for low and hilly topography.
Disadvantages
a) Cost for constructing of storage tank is higher and required booster pipes;
b) Using electricity to boost the water supply from low to high level;
c) Cost of maintenance is higher for replacement of booster pipes if breakdown occurs.
 WATER RETICULATION SYSTEM
( NETWORK WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM )
Water Reticulation System
• Network distribution system is a distribution of pipeline of water to the
consumers. The Engineer will designed based on the system of
development at the area for domestic, commercial, industrial and fire
fighting purposes.
• Criteria for network water distribution system
a. Adequate water pressure for low and high rise building for consumer’s
taps for a specific rate of flow; Normally for high rise building required
boosters pumps to elevate the water to upper floors.
b. Selection of material for piping system must be water-tight.
c. Less maintenance works and economical of the propose piping system.
d. Material selected must comply with requirement by Water Authority
and SIRIM.
Water Distribution Component
• The basic components in the water reticulation system are pipes, valves and
hydrants.

1. Pipes System
• The selection of pipe sizes and material were depend on occupancy of the
properties along mains roads whether the purposes of distribution either for
residential, commercial, industrial, water uses and fire risks.
• The main components of piping work (External area) comprises of pipes, joints
system, fittings, valves and service connections.
• All this item contributes to the cost and the duties of the Quantity Surveyor to
measure quantity and calculate the cost for this item in the development projects.
Types of pipes system as follow;
a. Trunk main pipe
b. Secondary main pipe
c. Distribution main pipe
d. Service Pipe
 Types of pipes
a) Trunk Main
• Trunk main is a pipe for the transport of potable water treatment plant to the distribution area. The size of
trunk main depends on the maximum capacity i.e. demand of distribution area. These are known as primary
feeders or mains. The function is to carry large quantity of water from the pumping plant to storage tank.

b) Secondary Main
• These are the pipes which carry water from the primary pipes to the various areas for normal supply to the
consumer or for fire fighting. Secondary pipe system from smaller mains within the primary main by running
from one primary pipe to another. The diameter of these pipe should not greater than 400mm.

c) Distribution Main Pipe

d) Service Pipe
Pipe from a supply source such as from the distribution pipe from the mains in the streets into the consumer
unit.
Types of network or layout Distribution Water
Supply

• Definition of water reticulation mean of network of pipes that install

at the area of supply. It’s consist of determination of the location of
elevated water tank and suction tank, determination type of pipe for
water reticulation and fire hydrant and determination of connection
to existing pipe.
1) a) Dead end or Tree System;
2) b) Grid System;
3) c) Circular or Ring System;
4) d) Radial System.
 1) Dead End or Tree System

• The system of installation require one main pipe runs through the centre of the populated area.
Sub-mains takeoff from this to both sides. Refer FIGURE 11 shows dead end distribution system. The
sub-mains divide into several branch lines from service connections.
Advantages of The System
a) The design calculation and pipe-laying is simple and easy
b) A smaller number of cut-off valves are required and the operation and maintenance cost is low
Disadvantages of The System
a) One main pipelines provides to the entire location, if any damage or breakage at one point of this
pipeline will disrupt the supply of water at that area.
b) The head loss is relatively high due to slow of water flow to the others branch pipes.
c) Dead ends at pipeline might affect the quality of water by allowing sedimentation and encouraging
bacterial growth due to stagnation.
d) The discharge of water amount available for fire fighting in the streets will be limited due to high
head loss at weak pressure area.
Dead end
2) Grid System
This system of pattern, network of pipes are interconnected with no dead-ends, the water supply can
reach at any point from more than one direction. Suitable at urban area such as for terrace housing
development.
Advantages of the System
a)Due to free flow of water in more than one direction, stagnation does not occur as readily in the
branching pattern.
b)In case of repair or break down in a pipe system, the other area connected will continue to receive
water.
c)Water reaches at all points with minimum head loss; head loss mean friction between the water and
the inside surface of the pipe. If the inside of the pipe is

extremely rough - then there is more friction loss between the water and the pipe. Friction loss in a
pipe depends upon the velocity or rate of flow and the size of the pipe (diameter), the length of the
pipe, and the roughness of the inside surface of the pipe.
d)During fires, plenty of water supply may be used due to supply for fire – fighting.

Disadvantages of the System

a)Cost of pipe laying is more due to more length of pipes is required.
b)More number of valves are required.
c)The calculation of pipe sizes are more complicated. Figure 12 shows the Grid System Layout.
4) Radial system
• The area is divided into different zones. The water is pumped into the
distribution reservoir at the middle of each zone. The distribution
pipe will be supply to the consumer at the area of service.

Advantages
a. Quick service
b. Calculation of pipe sizes is easy
components
Type of valves
• Gate valve
Material of Pipes for Distribution Networks
• In a water distribution network, pipes represent a large proportion of the capital
invested by water authorities and the selection of the right type of pipe is of great
importance.
• Types of material used for water network such as copper, galvanised steel or
plastic.
• Copper piping is commonly used for water supply lines because of its corrosion
resistance, strength, low friction loss, and small outside diameter.
• Plastic pipes are lightweight, easily joined, produce low friction, and none corrode.
From the material stated, not all types are suitable for carrying potable water.
Polybutylene (PB), Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinvly chloride (PVC), and chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipes may be used for cold water supply lines.
• Types of material Polybutylene (PB) and polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) are suitable for
hot water installation.
• Copper pipe Polyethylene (PE) pipe Polybutylene (PB) pipe
• Polyvinvly chloride (PVC) Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)
end