--- title: "Public stand post: requirements and importance" subject: "Water Supply Engineering" chapter: 9 key: "semester_5/water_supply_engineering:public-standpost" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/public-standpost site: BCT Engineering --- # Public stand post: requirements and importance Water Supply Engineering · Chapter 9: Valves and Fittings - Asked in: 2071 Shrawan, 4 marks; 2070 Asar, 4 marks; 2068 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2068 Baisakh (old course), 4 marks; 2070 Chaitra (old course) (asked 5 times) - Video: [Gravity Water Supply System | Unit: 8 | Water Supply Engineering | Prashant YT |CTEVT | 4th sem |](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlKGf6Tma2U) — Prashant YT - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/public-standpost - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/chapter-9 ## Question Describe the public stand post with neat sketch. Enlist the requirements (necessary criteria) of the public stand post along with its importance in rural areas. ## Short answer A public standpost is a community tap with a riser, taps, and a concrete platform with drain. It requires 7–10 m residual head, serves 100–200 people within 100–200 m walking distance, and must be clean, accessible, and well-drained. It provides low-cost clean water, reduces fetching labor and water-borne diseases, and is community-managed. ## Answer A public stand post (public tap, tap stand) is a water outlet in a community, where several households collect water free or by payment, from a pipe connected to the distribution system. It is the most common mode of water supply in rural Nepal. ```text tap(s) bucket | | ___ ______|__|__| | | masonry | platform with | pedestal | drain/soak pit |______________|_____ pipe from main (underground) ``` #### Construction - A GI riser pipe (15–25 mm) rises from the main inside a masonry or concrete pedestal, with 1–2 taps (each tap at 0.6–0.9 m height) fixed on it, and a stop valve below. - A sloping concrete platform around the tap, with a drain to a soak pit, prevents mud and stagnant water. #### Requirements (criteria) 1. Residual head of at least 7–10 m at the tap. 2. One stand post for 100–200 people (one tap for about 50 persons), with a walking distance of not more than 100–200 m (rural, as per the design guideline). 3. Place it in a clean, accessible, safe position, away from drains and latrines, at a high point near the road; the site should be agreed by the users. 4. Strong, durable fittings and a lockable valve. 5. A suitable drain and soak pit, and enough clearance under the tap for a bucket or water vessel. #### Importance in rural areas It gives clean water at low cost to people who cannot afford house connections; reduces the time and labour of fetching water, especially of women and children; reduces water-borne diseases; can be maintained by the users' committee; and wastage is low because the tap is shared and managed by the community. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is a public stand post? A. A storage reservoir B. A private house connection C. A pump house D. A water outlet where several households collect water from the distribution system Answer: D. It is a shared community tap. (Key point: Definition) 2. What minimum residual head is required at the tap? A. 1-2 m B. 7-10 m C. 50 m D. 30 m Answer: B. At least 7-10 m is needed for a reasonable flow. (Key point: Residual head) 3. Where should a stand post be placed? A. In a low waterlogged place B. Beside latrines and drains C. Clean, accessible, safe place away from drains and latrines, agreed by users D. Far from the community Answer: C. The site must be clean, safe and accepted by users. (Key point: Siting) 4. Why is it important in rural areas? A. Needs no maintenance B. Gives clean water cheaply to those without house connections and saves time, mainly of women and children C. Replaces need for the source D. Increases water-borne disease Answer: B. It provides low-cost clean water and reduces fetching time and disease. 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