TAINING INFORMATION SHEET

COURSER: NCPL ONE MODULE: TCPL 101 PL. TECHNOLOGY DATE:

INSTITUTE: SUB MODULE: PIPE FITTING INSTRUCTOR: OPWONYA S
CONTENT: Tapping/ connection to water main
Public cold water supply [distribution] or water main

 Treated water is pumped through large diameter main pipes to high level reservoirs which
may be concrete constructed underground or steel raised as tower. These large pipes are
pumping main
 In both cases the idea is to make water flow naturally by gravity fall wherever it is required
from the service reservoir.
 Water is distributed through large underground trunk main whose diameter depends on the
population of the community and the distance water has to travel.
 The diameter vary from 300mm to 1500mm and large cities may go up to 3m diameter
depending on the population of the community in the area.
 Branch mains are tapped from trunk main and sizes vary according to population ie from
38mm to150 mm or more to serve various communities.
 The size of the main depends on:
 Required consumption
 Head of pressure
 Length of the main
Mains are divided into section by fitting the sluice valve to allow repair incase of break down or
control of pressure during mains operation and maintenance

POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN SIZING PIPES

 Consumption
 Head of pressure
 Length of the main
 Roughness of bore of the main
Head =

DEPTH OF MAINS: They are run by the road side according to the contour of the ground in
which the main is laid and are buried 750mm deep under ground [minimum depth]. Incase
they pass under roads or where the traffic is heavy the minimum depth is 900mm
 SYSTEM OF LAYING WATER MAIN/LAYOUT OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
DEAD LEG SYSTEM/ DEAD END
SYSTEM / TREE SYSTEM
 In a dead leg system the water ends in a dead leg
which implies that it flows into only one direction
 The trunk main starts from service reservoir then
smaller main and branches taken off from it

ADVANTAGES
 The system is cheap ie Its economical in
material
 It is easy to plan the lay out
 It is easy to lay pipes or Easy to install
 It can be extended when required
 It can be used in irregularly developed
towns
 Pressure to be allowed can be calculated
easily
 The design calculation are simple in this
system
 It is economical in labour
DISADVANTAGES
 There is always shortage of water in
other areas in case of break down which
implies that the whole main goes out of
service when repairs are being carried
out
 There is tendency of other areas la
cking water during peak period
 Water which has stagnated in the dead
leg could also contaminate the main
water incase of any repair on the main
 Expensive to provide a scour valve at
every dead ends
 Difficult to extinguish fire during repair
work

RING MAIN System/ circular system

 In the ring main system are interconnected or

tapped forming a ring.
 This implies a village or area of residence can be
supplied with water from many different
directions
ADVANTAGES

 Even distribution of pressure in all the areas

 Dead ends are eliminated
 Section can be under repair when other areas
are getting water unlike the dead leg kind of
system
 Supplies is available from various points
 The water will not decompose due to continuous circulation
 DISADVANTAGES

 its expensive in both material and labour

 Design of system is difficult
 More number of slice valves required
 Computation of pipe lines sizes is difficult
 Quite complicated to install and therefore requires skilled labour for the installation
 maintenance cost is high
 Fittings are required to cut off any desired section from supply
grid iron system/ reticulation system

 The layout of pipe lines assume a rectangular

shape net work of town and all dead ends
eliminated
 The water is kept in perfect circulation. Hence in
case of fire, water can be drawn from many
points
 This is a common fashion these days in developed
cities and model towns

Radial system
 This system are suitable in town when the roads are laid
radially. Hence its reverse of Ring system
 The entire district is divided into various zones. Hence one
reservoir supplies each zone
 Reservoir receives water from the pumping main then supplied
through radially laid pipes
VALVES
Sluice valves / Stop valves, Check valve/ Reflux valve, Air relief valve / Float valve,
Pressure relief valve / Safety valve, Scour valve/Blow off valve, Fire hydrant, Plug valves
 AIR RELIEF VALVE:
 Should be fitted at summit [highest point ]such that it releases or eliminate air in the main
which tends to retard the flow of water which might have accumulated in the
main
 It has one or two hollow floats inside the float chamber which normally remains
full of water
 When air fills it the water level goes down making float to fall there by opening
air to escape
 After which the chamber is filled up with water and takes the float up closing air
opening
 Air valves are rarely necessary in town because the service pipes are tapped onto the taps
of the main which carry any air which might have accumulated in them [Fig……]
 SLUICE VALVE
 These are also known as gate valves which are used to control flow
of water through pipes
 They are provided at street corners/ junction as well two valves
placed at each intersection
 It consist of essentially cast iron body with a wedge shaped door
and square threaded screw for raising & lowering the spindle
which is made of gun metal
 The spindle of sluice valve are surrounded by a brick pit or cast iron
tube at the top of which is bedded a cast iron service box with a
cover giving access to the key that operates the valve and are under road traffic which does
not cause the spindle pit to damage the valve . [Fig…….]
 CHECK VALVE/ REFLUX VALVE/ NON RETURN VALVE
 It allows the flow of water in one direction only
 Some times used at the foot of a long rising water main to
prevent running back of water
 Also provided on pipe lines leading off from pumping station to
prevent emptying back
 It has a metallic disc resting against a projection in the casing with a hinge attached
 Incase the direction of the flow is reversed the disc falls down and shuts tightly
 A cap is provided at the top for inspection
 PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE/ SAFETY VALVE
 It relieves high pressures in pipe lines and plumbing fixtures in building
 It consist of disc controlled by a spring which can be adjusted for any
pressure
 When the pressure exceeds, the disc is forced off its seat to relieve
pressure after which the disc again comes down automatically due to the
spring
 SCOUR OUT VALVE/ WASHOUT VALVE
 Should be fitted at the lowest of the trunk main or every depression in a pipe line.
 Mud and sludge get collected in depression even when it crosses valley etc.
 The valves are mounted on the pipe line at the lowest point to remove dirt’s due to high
velocity of water
 There should also be a washout hydrant at every dead end of a main to permit cleaning or
flushing of the main
  FIRE HYDRANT
 Fire engines are attached to fire hydrant which are connected on water main to supply
water incase of fire in the vicinity
 Hydrants are on streets at intervals between 154m to 300m apart and at junction making
nearest hydrants not more than 75m as well in public
places e.g. market etc.
 Fire hydrant connection are 10cm for fire engine, 6.25cm
for hose outlet, and 2.75cm smooth nozzle which
releases stream of water at 3kg/cm2
 Hydrants may have up to four hose outlets placed all-
round the hydrants barrel
 Fire fighting generates high pressure by fire engines at
the time of fire to extinguish fire even up to the top of a
storey building
 Hydrants should be generally installed on all mains of 4
inches diameter upwards.
 PLUG VALVES
 Its also known as cone valves which has a tapered plug which turns in tapered seat
 Plug valves are not only for water under pressure but also for sewage, oil, gases etc
INTRODUCTION OF WATER IN MAINS

 After laying the main and now wish to introduce water in the pipe for testing .
 it should be introduced by opening the valve slowly to allow water to flow in the main
without any pressure.
 This will allow air out of the main freely hence already made joints will not be disturbed. All
valves must be left open i.e. air relief valve. Fire hydrant, and other draw offs and wash out.
 Later when the water has reached all areas the valve could be closed one by one to charge
the main with pressure which is left under pressure for several hours to check for leakages
TESTING OF MAIN:
 This should be done in section by closing some sluice valve to allow testing to be carried out
more especially when the main is so long and the laying process is continuing.
 All joints must be exposed to allow detection of leakages
A SECTION OF MAIN BEING TESTED:
 When laying process is continuing the ends of the main may be temporary closed and tested.
 And test the section with moderated pressure.
 A tightly expanding plug could be fitted or some form of flanging joints fitted at this point.
 A strong piece of wood or strut to be plugged firmed on the ground closed to end of this pipe
to resist the water pressure on the plug or flanged
IF THE SECTION TO BE TESTED END WITH A VALVE:
 A temporarily blank flange should be fitted and valve should be opened to allow air to
escape.
 After testing the water should be drained to allow work continues