CHAPTER 5: Intakes

Sishir Dahal
9th June, 2023
Definition
An intake is a device or structure placed in a water source to
permit the withdrawal of water from source, and discharge it
into an intake conduit through which it flows to the treatment
plant; or discharge it into an intake well from where it is pumped
to the treatment plant.
• Intake consists of :
a) Intake conduit with a screen at its inlet end and a valve to
control flow of water
b) A structure permitting the withdrawal of water from the
source and housing and supporting the intake conduit, valve
operating devices, pumps, etc.
• Structure made of stone masonry, brick masonry, RCC or
concrete blocks
• Should be designed for all forces likely to come upon it
(pressure due to water, wave action, wind, floating debris, etc.)
Site selection of an intake
• As far as possible, the site should be near the
treatment plant so that the cost of conveying water to
the city is less.
• The intake must be located in the pure water zone of
the source to draw best quality water from the source,
thereby reducing load on the treatment plant.
• The intake must never be located at the downstream
or in the vicinity of the point of disposal of
wastewater.
• The site should be such as to permit greater
withdrawal of water, if required at a future date.
Site selection of an intake
• The intake must be located at a place from
where it can draw water even during the
driest period of the year.
• The intake site should remain easily accessible
during floods and should not get flooded.
Moreover, the flood water should not be
concentrated in the vicinity of the intake.
• It should not be located in navigation
channels, because water of such channels is
generally polluted
Classification of Intakes

Submerged : Constructed entirely under water

It is used to obtain supply from lake
Exposed : Constructed near or away from water
bodies
Classification of Intakes

spring intake

Wet : The water level of intake tower is practically the

same as that of the water level of sources of supply in wet
intake. It is also known as jack well
Dry : There is no water in the water tower in the case
of dry intake. Water enters through the port directly into
the conveying pipes. In this type of intake the dry tower is
simply used for the operation of valves.
Classification of Intake on the basis of source of
water : Characteristics of intake
1. River intake
2. Reservoir intake
3. Spring intake
4. Lake intake
1. River intake
• An intake tower constructed at the bank or
inside of the river to withdraw water is called
river intake.
• These intakes consist of circular or rectangular,
masonry or RCC intake tower from where
water can be withdrawn even in the dry period.
• Several inlets called penstocks for drawing
water are provided at the different levels to
permit the withdrawal of water when the
water level drops.
1. River intake
• All inlet ends are provided with a screen (to
prevent the entry of floating matters) with
valves to control the flow of water operation
from the control room.
• The penstock discharges the water into the
intake tower (intake well) from where it is
pumped or flow under gravity.
1. River intake
• When river bed is unstable or soft, the foundation is
kept slightly away from the river bed. Intake is kept
submerged under lowest water level. Weir or
channels are constructed to get water in all
conditions.
2. Reservoir intake
• Reservoir intakes which is
mostly used to draw the water
from earthen dam reservoir.
• It essentially consists of an
intake tower constructed on
the slope of the dam at such
place from where intake can
draw sufficient quantity of
water even in the driest period.
• Intake pipes are fixed at
different levels, so as to draw
water near the surface in all
variations of water level.
• These all inlet pipes are
connected to one vertical pipe
inside the intake well.
2. Reservoir intake
• Screens are provided at the mouth of all
intakes pipes to prevent the entrance of
floating and suspended matter in them.
• The water which enters the vertical pipe is
taken to the other side of the dam by means of
outlet pipe.
• At the top of the intake tower sluice valves are
provided to control the flow of water.
Reservoir intake for earth dam
• The intake pipes are at different levels with the
common vertical pipe.
• The intake pipe has the fine screen to permit entry
of clear water.
• Pipes at different level maintain level of reservoir.
• Intake pipes are provided with valves to control
the flow of water.
• The control room is at the top to operate valves.
• Common vertical pipe enters the conduit which
carries water to the treatment plant.
• The dry intake tower has pipes fitted inside.
Reservoir intake for gravity dam
• In the case of the reservoir, the type of intake
to be provided depends on the type of dam
constructed to create the reservoir.
• The reservoir intake for gravity dam consists of
an intake created by constructing gravity dam.
2. Reservoir intake
2. Spring intake
• A spring intake is provided to abstract water from a spring
source.
• It also prevents outside water and other sources of pollutants
from entering into the water supply system.
• The intake thus protects the water from getting contaminated.
• Selection basis for location of spring intakes:
1. The place should be close to the source.
2. The place should be above populated or farming areas.
3. The place should be above foot path, cattle watering and
washing places.
4. Places where surface water run-off during the monsoon can be
easily drained off.
5. Where the immediate surrounding above the spring is not
easily accessible to people and livestock.
3. Spring intake
• It consists of two chambers as collection chamber
and valve chamber.
• Collection chamber should be away from the source
as far as possible. The base of the collection chamber
is made of plain cement concrete to avoid leakage. All
walls are made of stone masonry.
• In order to reduce the backup pressure, the collection
chamber needs to be constructed away from the
source. The collection chamber is provided with the
wing walls on both sides which divert the water from
the source to the collection chamber.
3. Spring intake
• The collection chamber acts as sedimentation tank,
which removes suspended particles and turbidity. In
monsoon, the turbidity of the water is high, so special
treatment with sedimentation and filters are needed.
As far as possible the treatment work should be
avoided to reduce the cost so a pure source needs to
be selected.
• The water contains particle in it which may settle
down in the collection chamber as sediments which
should be washed out when it reaches 5 cm of the
outlet pipe.
3. Spring intake
• The washout pipe is carried down the slope to allow
the sediments to flow into the nearby drainage
system.
• The overflow pipe is provided in the collection
chamber to prevent the backup pressure.
• The washout valve is operated when washing of the
sediments is done in the collection chamber. Mild
steel, concrete or stone masonry covers are used to
cover the collection and the valve chamber.
3. Spring intake
• In the valve chamber, the valves are connected to
outlet pipe and washout pipe. During normal
operation outlet valve is opened while washout valves
are closed but during washing of the sediments from
the collection is done it is opened. The vent pipe is
provided to outlet pipe to release air pressure.
• Spring of low yield less than 0.05 lps should not be
tapped for gravity flow schemes.
3. Spring intake
Protection of spring intakes
• For safe drinking water free of contamination.
• For increasing quality and quantity of water
content.
• For prevention of scarcity of water in near
future. Proper drainage should be provided
around source to divert the run-off water.
Surface runoff must not be allowed to flow into
the catchment of springs.
 CH – 5 Intake
Spring intake