Gravitational distribution the water from upland gathering grounds

is impounded in a reservoir. From this point the water is filtered and

chlorinated before serving an inhabited area at lower level. There
are no pumping costs.
Pumped distribution water extracted from a river is pumped into a
settlement tank, subsequently filtered and chlorinated. Pump
maintenance and running costs make this process more expensive
than gravity systems.
Ring main distribution water mains supplying a town or village may
be in the form of a grid. This is preferable to radial distribution as
sections can be isolated with minimal disruption to the remaining
system and there is no more opportunity for water to maintain a
flow.
Storage and Distribution of Water
6