Journey of Water Distribution Systems - From Water Source to Faucets
Sep 16, 2015Table of Contents
Overview
of Water Distribution System
Water
is a very important component of the human society. Since the
beginning of civilization - cities, towns and communities have been
built around reliable water sources. With each passing decade the
technologies for bringing water from source to the faucets and
eventually to the end user has been improving.
Infrastructure
of a Water Distribution System
For
a good water distribution system to be effective to provide a
reliable and safe water to the end users must have the following:
- Collection
- Transmission
- Treatment
- Storage
- Distribution
Within
this system the water travels from the source to the distribution
point for consumption. But it also undergoes some contamination as it
travels through the various underground and above ground channels. So
therefore, water must be treated before being distributed for any of
the following purposes:
- For residents
- For commercial purpose
- For industrial needs
- Irrigation
- Public needs such as Firefighting
- Potable water for public use
History
of Water Distribution System
Shallow
Wells: The earliest form of water distribution system was created
near the rivers, lakes or springs by digging up Shallow Wells. Later,
as the requirement for the water increased these wells became deeper.
Shallow wells were mainly found in 2500 BC alongside the growing
civilization.
Qanats:
A new form of water distribution systems were the Qanats. This system
was created by using slightly sloping tunnels driven into hillsides
that had groundwater. The origin of this system dates back to ancient
Persia about 700 BC. These were very much a live system in Tehran,
Iran up until 1933.
Aqueducts:
The Romans had been building this water system between 312 BC and 455
AD. They discovered an ingenious way of porting water from lakes or
rivers to the central Rome. Some of these aqueducts are still in use.
The longest aqueduct constructed is the Aqua Marcia in 144 BC.
Wooden
Log Made into Supply Pipes: The first Water Distribution System in
America was the bored-out logs made out of hemlock or elm trees.
These logs were sometimes joined using bituminous-like pitch or tar
to caulk the joist. Boston was the first city to have a waterworks
system for their domestic and fire-fighting needs.
Cast-Iron
Pipes: During the early 19th century the use of cast-iron pipes was
introduced to withstand high pressure. With this new innovative
system, it was possible to distribute water to individual homes of
the communities.
20th
Century Pipelines: In the construction of underground pipelines and
tunnels, materials such as cast-iron, reinforced concrete, and steel
were used to improve the safe drinking water distribution system thus
improving the water quality.
Treatment
of Water
As
the water travels through the various transmission channels it
becomes contaminated. The process of boiling and filtering water to
make it disease free was available as a recorded edict in the
Sanskrit text in 2000 BC. Later, a German Bacteriologist Robert Koch
in Mid-19th Century discovered the cause for diseases to be the
infected drinking water. The Germ theory of disease was established
at that time. Based on this theory, it became vital to treat drinking
water. By the end of 19th Century and very early 20th Century the
water was treated to eliminate deadly waterborne diseases and make it
a safe drinking water for the communities.
Sustainable
Supply of Safe Drinking Water
Water distribution system plays a major role to avoid water scarcity and sometime to create water supply possible even in desert regions. It is not enough to set up the system; but it is equally important that these system needs to be monitored on a regular basis to provide safe drinking water. Singapore - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre is coming up with better water supply monitoring systems. Various ways of automated monitoring would ensure that the quality of the water is maintained and enhanced at the distribution point. An undergraduate taking the NCEES Civil Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam) can brush up their knowledge of the Water Distribution System and water treatment with the aid of a Review course.
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