Cold Water

Supply in
Building

Water Distribution in
Building

Planning the water distribution in buildings for a satisfactory chemical and

bacteriological quality includes:
1. The system must provide adequate pressure up to extremities of the system.
2. The safety and quality of the water should not be impaired by defects in the
system. It should be provided with sufficient valves and blow offs, to allow repair
work without undue interruption of the system.
3. There should be no unprotected open reservoir, or cross connections with inferior
water system to enter the distribution system.
4. The water system should be tight against leakage. The main and branches
connection should not be submerged in surface water, or subjected to any source
of contamination.
5. The water system design, shall afford effective circulation of water with minimum
number of dead end mains.
6. The system shall be guarded against contamination in any parts of it resulting
from repair works, replacement of extension of the mains.
7. When new mains are installed, or old mains repaired, they should be filled with
strong chlorine solution of 40 to 60 mg. per liter for at least 24 hours, and then
flushed with water supplied normally from the main.
8. As much as possible, water main should be laid above the elevation of concrete
sanitary sewers, or crossover points, and at least 3 maters horizontally from such
sanitary sewer when they are parallel. Should this be impossible for some reasons,
the sewer main must be encased in concrete.

Public Water Distribution is

Classified into:
1. Direct Pressure Distribution
- obtain its supply of water through
a large intake pipe, installed in the
lake basin extended down the water.
2. Indirect Pressure Distribution
- when the water drawn from a
drilled distribution is done by
indirect pressure.

Household Water Supply

1. House Service the pipe connection
from the public water main or any
source of water supply to the
building served
2. Riser - the vertical-supply pipe
which extend upward from one floor
to the next
3. Branches horizontal pipes that
serve the faucets or fixtures

Water Main
- The public water connection which are laid underground
along the streets where the house service is connected.

Types of Cold Water

Distribution
1. By normal water pressure from the
public main.
2. By overhead feed system.
3. By air pressure distribution system

The Overhead Feed System

- Supplies water to the plumbing fixtures by means

of gravity.
ADVANTAGES:
1.

2.
3.

Because of the water stored inside the tank, water supply distribution is
not affected by the peak load hour even if the pressure at the water main
becomes considerably low.
Power interruptions will not in any manner affects the water supply inside
the building.
In case the pumping unit breaks down, the time required to replace parts
will not affect the regular supply of water.

DISADVANTAGES:
4.
5.
6.
7.

The water inside the tank is exposed to the natural elements of weather,
subject to contamination.
The water distribution unit has many working parts that require higher
maintenance cost.
The pumping unit and the entire installation throughout the building
occupies valuable spaces.
It requires stronger foundation and other structure to sustain the heavy

Air Pressured Water

Distribution
- Is a new concept in water distribution where compressed
air is used as the delivery agent.
ADVANTAGES:
1. It has a compact pumping unit that requires a limited space.
2. The water chamber being air-tight makes the system a sanitary one.
3. The oxygen in the compressed air passing through the water line, serves as
purifying agent, making the water more palatable.
4. It offers economic advantages by installing a smaller pipe diameter.
5. It has few working parts and therefore, less initial construction and maintenance
cost.
6. Air pressurized water distribution system is well accepted for small, medium and
large buildings.
7. Air pressured water distribution system serves zones of about 10 storeys or floor
intervals in buildings of extreme height.

DISADVANTAGE
The only disadvantage of the air pressurized water distribution system is the
interruption of water supply.

There are four mechanical devices

used in air pressurized water supply
system:
1. A large Storage Tank, with all
tapping required
2. A single or duplex centrifugal pump
3. An air compressor
4. An automatic pressure control
switch

Direct Up-feed Pumping

System
- Used on tall building that could not be served
adequately by the street main.
- This sophisticated process could deliver water at
varying rates needed from two, three or several
faucets up to the full demand of the entire building
fixtures

ADVANTAGES:
1. Eliminate the construction of large house water tank.
2. Avoid cost of heavy structures to carry the house
tank.
3. Eliminate periodic cost.

Friction in Water Supply and

Distribution System
Friction when alluded to in the plumbing system refers to the
resistance produced by the flowing water with the fittings and
interior surface of the pipe.
Friction in water supply and distribution system can be minimized
under the following conditions:
1. All water pipes should be installed straight and direct as
[possible.
2. The use of turns, offsets, and traps, should be minimized if
cannot be avoided.
3. Pipes with plain and smooth surface should be used.
4. The use of fittings, stops, and other devices connected to the
distribution lines, should be minimized.
5. All fittings and joints must be connected properly.

Pressure
- Is the force required to move the water inside the
pipe.
Static Pressure - the pressure exerted by the water at rest.
Normal Pressure the pressure range measured over a period
of 24 hours.
*Pressure reducing valve installing this can minimize the
excessive water pressure
Critical Pressure the maximum and minimum pressure at
which proper function of the water supply system can be
maintained
Friction Head Loss the loss in rate of flow, due to friction
between the water and the walls of the pipe
Pressure Lose The variations in pressure between the water
main and the outlet end of the water service.

Other Causes of Pressure Loss

1. Simultaneous draw or use of water
2. Height or distance to which the watermust flow
3. Fluctuation of water pressure in the water main
4. Mineral elements in water that adhere to the interior of
the pipe reducing the diameter.
5. In adequate size of the pipe
Water supply coming from the public water main is
also affected by water pressure fluctuations
caused by:
6. Peak load
7. Emergency draw
8. Breakdown of lines or pumping unit
9. Insufficient water level at the water system reservoir

Maximum and Probable

Demand
Maximum Demand the maximum water discharges
of fixtures in terms of fixture units.
The maximum demand of water is equal to the Total
Fixture Units in the plumbing system, where one unit
is valued at 8 gallons of water discharged per minute
interval.
Example:
One water closet I valued at 6 fixture units. Therefore,
6x8= 48 gallons

Probable Demand or Peak Load

the fewer the number of fixtures installed, the higher
the percentage of probability of their simultaneous
use, and the greater the number of fixtures installed,
the lower the percentage of probable simultaneous
use.
if a fixture can discharge, only a given quantity of
water, wherein the water supply may not be
overtaxed above this amount of water without
causing overflow of the fixtures being used, the, the
maximum demand of water is the total sum of its
fixture units wherein each fixture unit represents 8
gallons of water.

Water Service Pipes for large buildings, The

National Plumbing Code provides that:
the minimum size of the water service
pipes from the curb to the building shall
be 38mm
(1 ) diameter for the following fixtures
1. Sill Cock 5. Lavatories
2. Hot water boiler 6. Bathtub
3. Laundry tray 7. Water closet
4. Sink

Water Pumps and Lifts

Types of Pump:
1. Piston Pumps is used on small water
distribution system for elevating water
in wells or other sources.
a. The Single action pump
b. Double action pump
c. Duplex or Twin Piston pump
2. Centrifugal Pump associated with tall
building water distribution system

Water Service Fittings and Devices

The different types of valves used in water supply system are:
1. The Gate Valve used to completely close, or completely
open the line but not necessarily to control the flow of
water.
a. The Wedged Shape or Tapered Disc
- used where the stem must be
installed pointing downward
b. The Double Disc Valve
- closes in the same manner as the wedged type, except
that its parallel faces drop in a vertical position, and are
forced apart by the disc spreader.

2. Globe Valve is actuated by a stem screw, and

hand wheel, suited on installation that calls for
throttling.
a. Plug Type Disc Valve
- has a wide bearing surface
producing good resistance to the
cutting effects of scale, dirt and
other kind of foreign matter found
inside the pipe.
b. Conventional Disc Valve
- has a pressure tight bearing
between the disc and the seat
recommended for cold water and any temperature service.
c. Composition Disc Valve
- used for various types of services on oil, gasoline, steam, and
hot or cold water.

3. Angle Valve operates in the same manner as the globe

valve but is used in making 90 degree turn in a line to
reduce the number of joints.
4. Foot Valve (Retention Valve)
located at the lower end
of the pump used to prevent
loss of priming the pump.
5. Check Valve main function
is to prevent the reversal flow
of gas or liquid in the line.
It is principally used in
industrial piping connections
for gas, water, steam, air and
other vapor services.

6. Safety Valve used on cold water systems, heating

systems, compressed air lines, and other pipelines with
excessive pressure.
a. Corporation Stop
inserted into the water
main and serves as a control
of the water service.
b. Curb Stop installed between
the curb and the sidewalk line
accessible to cast iron stop box equipped with removable
cover.
c. Meter Stop controlling stop of the entire water supply
in building
d. Water Meter a device used to measure the amount of
water that passes through the water service.