CHAPTER 10

WATER
RETICULATION
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM@NETWORKS
Includes:
1. A drainage basin
2. A raw water collection point(above and below ground) where the
water accumulates such as a lake, river or groundwater.
3. Water purification facilities – treated water is transferred using pipes
4. Water storage facilities such as reservoir, water tanks or water tower.
5. Additional water pressuring components such as pumping stations
may need to be situated at the outlet of underground or above
ground reservoirs or cistern
6. A pipe network for distribution of water to the consumers (housing,
commercial, etc) and other usage points(eg: fire hydrant)
7. Connections to sewers(underground pipes, etc) are generally found
downstream of the water consumers but sewer system considered to
be a separate system rather than part of the water supply system.
TYPES OF SYSTEMS IN WATER
DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM

DEAD END OR GRID IRON OR CIRCULAR OR

RADIAL
TREE RETICULATION RING
DEAD-END OR TREE
SYSTEM
 In this system, one main pipeline runs through the center of the
populated area and sub mains take off from this to both the sides.
 It is suitable for towns that have one several road and by lanes
without regularity.
 The main is a larger diameter at the beginning and it becomes
smaller as it goes further from the sources of water supply.
 The pipe, which connects house within main pipe in the streets, is
known as services pipe having 100 to 200 mm or even 300 mm
diameter.
 Here less numbers of valves are required, but if there is case of
repairs to any sections, the supply of the branch has to be cut off
giving inconvenience to the majority.
 The discharge available for fire fighting in the streets will be
limited
 GRID-IRON OR RETICULATION
SYSTEM
 If the dead ends of the precious system are inter-connected, water can
be made to circulate continuously through the whole of the distribution
system.
 This system is therefore also known as the interlaced system.
 Here, the main supply pipe runt hrough the center of the rectangular
area and sub mains take off from these in perpendicular directions.
 This system is ideal for cities laid out on rectangular plan.
 There is free circulation of water, without any stagnation. In case of
repairs, only very small area of distribution system is affected, but here
large numbers of cut off required.
 The systems require longer pipes lengths and bigger s diameters. The
cost of laying water pipe is more.
CIRCULAR OR RING
SYSTEM
This system is most suitable for the town
or area having well planned streets and
roads.
In this system, the supply main forms a
ring around the distribution district. In
case of fire, a large quantity of water is
available
RADIAL SYSTEM
This system is just the reverse of the circular
system.
In this system, whole area is divided in to a
number of distribution districts.
Each district has a centrally located
distribution reservoir from where distribution
pipes run radials toward the periphery of the
distribution district.
This system gives quick service, without
much loss of head.
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
 The following are the characteristics and considerations for the
planning and design of water supply distribution and reticulation
systems summarized from Twort et al. (2000) and the Malaysian Water
Association (1994):
i. The service reservoir shall be as near and central as possible
to the water demand area (Figure 2.3a). Because the service
reservoir evens out the peak demands for water, the further the
service reservoir is from the distribution area, the longer must be the
lengths of main designed for peak hourly flow rates of flow and, the
more costly is the system. A service reservoir close to the
distribution area provides advantages when maintaining supplies
under emergency conditions and for fire-fighting. It also helps to
reduce pressure fluctuations in the distribution system and aids
economic development of the system. Nevertheless there are
occasions where the configuration of the land makes it impossible to
comply with this arrangement (Figure 2.3b).
Figure 2.3: Distribution system feeds: (a)-(b) single main feed, and (c) use of ring
main
ii. Where the service reservoir cannot be sited close to the
demand area, a twin pipeline layout shall be considered.
More than one pipeline connected together at their
extremities to form a ring main (Figure 2.3c) through the
distribution area will be able to cope more effectively
with peak rates of flow but, in addition, should a repair
be necessary on one main, at least some flow can be
maintained to the distribution system.
iii. The reticulation pipes shall be laid so as to form a
network system. Consistent water quality must be
maintained through the system by establishing discrete
hydraulic and source water quality areas. Wherever
possible, dead ends, long retention times, mixing of
different waters within the distribution system, and
diurnal reversals of flow in the main pipe should be
avoided.
iv. Minimum pressures at peak demand times
on 24-hour supply systems need to be not
less than 15 to 20 m in the main pipe at the
highest supply point a system can serve.
Higher pressures may be necessary in some
areas where there are a significant number
of dwellings exceeding three-storey height,
but high rise blocks will normally be
required to have their own booster.
v. Pipelines shall preferably be laid adjacent
to roads so as to provide easy access for
maintenance
vi. Static pressures under low night-time demand should be
as low as practicable to minimise leakage. For flat areas,
a maximum static pressure in the range of 40 to 50 m is
desirable. For undulating areas, a higher static pressure
may be unavoidable. Where extreme topographical
conditions prevail in demand areas, such as greater than
40 metres difference in elevation, pressure zoning of
service areas according to ground elevations may be
necessary. This can be achieved by using pressure
reducing valves or break pressure tanks. Pressure
reducing valves can be adopted to reduce pressures in
low lying areas, but they must be regularly maintained if
they are to operate reliably. To guard against mishaps, the
low level system must be strong enough to resist the
maximum possible static pressure if the valve fails or
needs to be by-passed for operational reasons.
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
A. PRELIMINARIES
i. Ground water control
ii. Setting out
iii. Environmental management
iv. Electricity and water
v. Testing
vi. Plant and machineries
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
B. INSTALLATION AND SEQUENCE OF
CONSTRUCTION
i. Excavate and prepare the base for water
mains
ii. Position for water mains is located in
accordance with job description
iii. Position water reticulation
iv. Install water reticulation
v. Maintain water reticulation
vi. Work safely with care
 COMPONENT AND MATERIAL
 VALVES • PIPES
i. Steel pipe
i. Sluice valve @ gate valve
ii. Ductile pipe
ii. Butterfly valve iii. Concrete pipe
iii. Plug valve iv. Asbestos cement pipe(AC)
iv. Ball valve v. Plastic pipe
v. Globe valve vi. HDPE pipe
vi. Check valve
• PUMPS
vii. Altitude valve
i. Positive Displacement
viii. Service valve Pumps(PDP)
ix. Blow off valve ii. Variable Displacement
x. Backflow valve Pumps(Velocity Pumps)
iii. Centrifugal pump
 PILLAR HYDRANT • CONNECTOR
 VALVES
 ..are mechanical devices, installed in a water distribution system to
allow Operators to start, stop or control the water flow in the system
 Example - A leak in a water distribution main. You close the valve to
stop the flow of water for repairs
 Uses - In water treatment plants to make water move to a specific tank
to fill or empty tanks in a process. So valves are attached to tanks and
are installed in-line as part of a piping system.
 How – A valve is operated or turned by attaching a valve key to an
operating nut on top of the valve. The valve key is turned clockwise to
close the valve and counter clockwise to open the valve.
 Automatic valves are fitted with a power driven operator used to turn
the valve. The power driven operator may be an electric motor, a
hydraulic motor, or an air driver device. These automatic drivers can
be operated locally/on-site by a person. They can also be driven from a
distance by a computer that tells it to turn
Types of valve Description and purpose

Sluice @ gate Their main purpose is to isolate a section of water main. This allows
operators to make repairs to a specific section
Butterfly A rotary type valve used mainly for isolation.

Plug is a valve is used to isolate or control the flow of a fluid

Ball a rotary valve used for isolation

Globe used for isolation of small water lines and for pressure and flow control

Check is used to allow flow in one direction only.

Service service valves are used to turn off water supply to homes and businesses

Blow off service valves are used to turn off water supply to homes and businesses

Backflow are used to prevent Cross Connections. These are the actual or potential
connections between a contaminated source and the water distribution
system. The valves are put in place to avoid water flowing backwards
from the customer to the water distribution system
 Ball valve

Butterfly
valve

Sluice valve
Check
valve
Pillar hydrant
• Fire hydrants are a kind of valve.
•They are access (entry) points to get water for:
i. Firefighting
ii. Pipeline flushing,
iii. For construction equipment tanks
WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPING
The pipes carries or distributes the water.
A wide variety of materials are used in the
manufacturing of water pipelines.
Steel pipes
Comes in sizes 12.5mm to 5300mm in
diameter.
This pipe is lighter than some of the other
piping materials and can withstand high
pressures.
Steel pipe is strong. It is assembled by
welding bell and spigot fitting, coupled
joints, and by flanged joints.
Ductile iron pipes
 Comes in sizes of 50mm to 1350mm.
 It can be cast iron (which is no longer used today) or
ductile iron.
 Both resist high pressures.
 These piping materials are subject to pitting (small
dents or holes in surface) and interior growth
(tuberculation).
 These are blister-like growths that form when metal
pipe corrodes.
 Installation joining can be done by bell and spigot,
mechanical flange or by Victaulic or Dresser
couplings.
Concrete pipes
 Comes in sizes 300mm and larger.
 It is durable, corrosion resistant (resistant to
rust).
 It requires little maintenance. Pre-stressed
concrete pipe can withstand extremely high
pressures (1750 kpa).
 Disadvantages of concrete pipe include its
weight, (it weighs a lot)
 It is hard to tap into and it requires special
fittings.
 The pipe is joined by bell and spigot. The joint
areas are then filled with mortar.
Asbestos-Cement Pipe (AC)
 Comes in sizes 100mm to 1050mm.
 It is manufactured from asbestos fibre, silica sand and
cement.
 AC is light weight and easily fitted together. It does
not corrode and it lasts a long time.
 AC pipe was popular until health hazards became a
concern.
 Workers are required to wear masks when they cut AC
pipe because of the asbestos fibres. It is installed with
the use of AC fittings.
 Special adapter fittings are used to join AC pipe to
other piping materials
Plastic pipe (PVC)
Comes in sizes up to 400mm.
It is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
polyethylene (PE) or polybutylene (PB).
The interior is extremely smooth so there is
little friction loss (loss caused by resistance
with one surface moving against another). It
is fitted together by solvent welding, bell and
spigot and heat fusion (PB&PE).
PVC is most commonly used today in the
construction of water distribution mains.
HDPE pipe
Is designed for piping systems above nad
below ground level
Suitable for inside or outside applications
High quality polyurethane foam
insulation combined with a durable
watertight jacket which means
economical and high quality system
PUMPS
A mechanical device used to move a liquid from one
place to another.
Pumps are used to lift and push water to a higher
elevation than the water is currently at. As an
example water is pumped from a lake or
underground aquifer to a storage reservoir.
Pumps are used to maintain a constant pressure in
a water distribution system.
For example, the pressure in a water distribution
system may be maintained or kept constant pressure
in a system by a pump that is continually running
 PUMPS (cont’d)
 There are basically 3 types of pumps used in the Water Works Industry to
supply water:
i. Positive Displacement Pumps (PDP) At times we must move exact
amounts of liquids into the system. These pumps help introduce
required chemicals for treatment purposes.
ii. Variable Displacement Pumps (Velocity Pumps) These pumps supply
a varying flow or volume depending on the head it is pumping against.
These pumps are either jet pumps, air lift pumps or centrifugal pumps.
iii. Centrifugal pumps - are the most common pump in the Water Works
Industry. They are a volute type pump (contained in a spiral) or turbine
type pump. They can be installed in a variety of configurations
(combinations) to meet most requirements. Centrifugal pumps can
pump large volumes of water against low or high heads. They are also
very efficient.