SOLVED EXAMPLE ON

WATER DISTRIBUTION
QUESTION 1
A water distribution network consisting of two loops is shown in Figure 1.
The network has one inflow at node A and three outflows at nodes B, C,
and D. The characteristics of the pipes are given in Table 1. Assume all
pipes to have a Hazen Williams coefficient, CH of 140. Assume flow at
node A to be equally distributed between pipe 1, pipe 2, and pipe 3, at
the start of your calculation.
Table 1: Pipe characteristics
Pipe No. Length (m) Diameter (mm)

Pipe 1 200 500

Pipe 2 250 500
Pipe 3 200 500
Pipe 4 250 500
Pipe 5 200 500

3
2.7 m /s

3
0.75 m /s

3
0.85 m /s

Figure 1: Pipe network (Q 2).

You are required to:
1.1 Show the initial assumed flows in a balanced network. (4)
1.2 Determine the flow X. (2)
1.3 Carry out 1 iteration to correct flows using the Hardy Cross
method. (20)
1.4 If the pressure at point A is 150 m, and all points are at the same
elevation, what will be the pressures at Point B,C and D? (9)
[35]
Hint: Assume friction losses only.

SOLUTION

QUESTION 1
A water distribution network consisting of two loops is shown in Figure 1.
The network has one inflow at node A and three outflows at nodes B, C,
and D. The characteristics of the pipes are given in Table 1. Assume all
pipes to have a Hazen Williams coefficient, CH of 140. Assume flow at
node A to be equally distributed between pipe 1, pipe 2, and pipe 3, at
the start of your calculation.

Table 1: Pipe characteristics

Pipe No. Length (m) Diameter (mm)

Pipe 1 200 500

Pipe 2 250 500
Pipe 3 200 500
Pipe 4 250 500
Pipe 5 200 500

3
2.7 m /s

0.9
0.9

0.9

3
0.75 m /s
1.10 0.15
0.20

3
0.85 m /s

Figure 1: Pipe network (Q 2).

4
You are required to:
1.1 Show the initial assumed flows in a balanced network. (4)
1.2 Determine the flow X. (2)
3
X=2.7-(0.75+0.85) = 1.1 m /s
1.3 Carry out 1 iteration to correct flows using the Hardy Cross
method. (20)
Loop I
Pipe
No. Flow(m3/s) Diameter(m) Length(m) area velocity Ch hf hf/Q Q1
pipe 1 -0,9 0,5 200 0,19625 -4,58599 140 -5,4684 6,0760 -0,9132
pipe 3 0,9 0,5 200 0,19625 4,585987 140 5,4684 6,0760 0,9438
pipe5 0,2 0,5 200 0,19625 1,019108 140 0,3374 1,6869 0,1868
0,3374 13,8388

Q= -0,01318

Loop II
Pipe
No. Flow(m3/s) Diameter(m) Length(m) area velocity ch hf hf/Q Q1
pipe 2 0,9 0,5 250 0,19625 4,585987 140 6,8355 7,5950 0,8430
pipe 4 0,15 0,5 250 0,19625 0,764331 140 0,2475 1,6502 0,0930
pipe 3 -0,9 0,5 200 0,19625 -4,58599 140 -5,4684 6,0760 -0,9438
ch 1,6146 15,3212

Q= -0,05697

1.4 If the pressure at point A is 150 m, and all points are at the same
elevation, what will be the pressures at Point B,C and D? (9)
VEL HF(NEW)
pipe 1 4,653135 5,6176
pipe 3 4,809108 5,971308
pipe5 0,951961 0,297364
pipe 2 4,295719 6,055896
pipe 4 0,474063 0,102199
pipe 3 4,809108 5,971308
Point A 150
B 144,3824
C 145,1909
D 143,9441
[35]
Hint: Assume friction losses only.

Question 2
A water distribution system is shown in Figure 1. The pipe characteristics are given
in the layout and the Hazen Williams coefficient, CH for all pipes is given as 120. The
network has two inflows at node A and B, and four outflows at C, D, E and F.
2.1 Carry two iterations to correct flows in the proposed network in Figure 1. Assume
the initial flows through pipe AB and AF to be equal. (40)

3
0.60 m /s 0.5
0.4
3 3
0.80 m A B 0.25 m /s
L=1000 m L=1000 m C
D=450 mm D=450 mm

0.4
0.5
0.25
L=1200 m L=1200 m L=1200 m

D=450 mm D=400 mm D=300 mm

0.05 0.0
F L=1000 m E L=1000 m D

D=300 mm D=300 mm

3 3
3 0.55 m /s Y m /s=0.25
0.35 m /s

Figure 1: Proposed water distribution network

Loop I
Pipe Flow(m3/
No. s) Diam(m) Length(m) area velocity Ch hf hf/Q Q1

4
 1000
AB 0,4 0,45 0,15896 2,51631 120 13,4106 33,5266 0,2974
1200
BE 0,5 0,4 0,1256 3,98089 120 42,9813 85,9627 0,4395
1000 -
EF -0,05 0,3 0,07065 -0,70771 120 -2,08054 41,6108 0,1526
1200 -
FA -0,4 0,45 0,15896 -2,51632 120 -16,0928 40,2319 0,5026
38,2187 201,3323

-
DQ = 0,1026

LoopII
Pipe Flow(m3/
No. s) Diam (m) Length(m) Area velocity Ch hf hf/Q Q1
1000
BC 0,5 0,45 0,15896 3,1453 120 20,2282 40,4565 0,4578
1200
CD 0,25 0,3 0,07065 3,5385 120 48,4017 193,607 0,2078
1000 -
DE 0 0,3 0,07065 0 120 0 0 0,0421
1200 -
EB -0,5 0,4 0,1256 -3,9808 120 -43,5793 87,1586 0,4395
25,0506 321,2221

-
DQ = 0,0422

ITERATION II
Loop I
Pipe No. Flow(m3/s) Diameter(m) Length(m) area velocity Ch hf hf/Q Q1 New Hf
1000
AB 0,29739 0,45 0,158963 1,870817 120 7,7682 26,121 0,2955 7,6769
1200
BE 0,439544 0,4 0,1256 3,499555 120 33,8991 77,123 0,4646 37,5398
1000
EF -0,15261 0,3 0,07065 -2,16009 120 -16,2493 106,476 -0,1545 16,6246
1200
FA -0,50261 0,45 0,158963 -3,16182 120 -24,5078 48,761 -0,5045 24,6791
0,9101 258,48

Q=  -0,0019

Loop II
Pipe No. Flow(m3/s) Diameter(m) Length(m) area velocity Ch hf hf/Q Q1 New Hf
1000
BC 0,457846 0,45 0,158963 2,880212 120 17,19888 37,5648 0,4309 15,3816
1200
CD 0,207846 0,3 0,07065 2,941906 120 34,44564 165,727 0,1809 26,6757
1000
DE -0,04215 0,3 0,07065 -0,59666 120 -1,51144 35,85495 -0,0691 3,7743
1200
EB -0,43954 0,4 0,1256 -3,49955 120 -34,3264 78,09548 -0,4646 37,5398
15,80667 317,2423

Q=  -0,02693

5
2.2 Determine the pressure at all nodes if the pressure at point A is 124 KPa. Assume
all nodes to be on the same elevation, (10)

m m
Pressure at A 124 124
Pressure at B 124-7.68 116.32
Pressure at C 116.32-15.38 100.94
Pressure at D 100.94-26.68 74.26

Pressure at F 120-24.68 95.32

Pressure at E 95.32-16.62 78.70
Pressure at D 78.70-3.77 74.93
There is a small closing error for pressure at Point
D =(74.93-74.26=0.67 m)