--- title: "Typical water supply system and components" subject: "Water Supply Engineering" chapter: 1 key: "semester_5/water_supply_engineering:typical-ws-system-components" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/typical-ws-system-components site: BCT Engineering --- # Typical water supply system and components Water Supply Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction - Asked in: 2076 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2076 Asoj, 4 marks; 2068 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2069 Asar (asked 4 times) - Video: [Components of water supply #Environment engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB8P0wWYDjY) — ALL ABOUT CIVIL ENGINEERING COURSE #AACC - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/typical-ws-system-components - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/chapter-1 ## Question Draw a schematic diagram of a typical (urban) water supply system and describe/list its components. ## Short answer Urban water supply system: source → intake → raw water pumping → treatment plant (screening, sedimentation, coagulation, filtration, disinfection) → clear water reservoir → treated water pumping → elevated service reservoir → distribution network → house connections. Major components: source, intake, raw water main, treatment units, clear water reservoir, pumping stations, service reservoir, distribution system, service connections. ## Answer A water supply system is the set of structures that collects, treats, transmits, stores and distributes water to consumers. A typical urban system is shown below. #### Schematic diagram ```text [Source: river/lake/well] | [Intake] | raw water main [Raw water pumping station] | [Treatment plant: screen, sedimentation, coagulation, filtration, disinfection] | [Clear water reservoir] | [Pumping station] --> [Elevated service reservoir] | [Distribution system] | House connections ``` #### Components and functions - **Source:** surface water (river, lake, reservoir) or ground water (well, spring). - **Intake works:** draw the required quantity of raw water from the source at a level of good quality and keep out floating matter. - **Raw water pumping and transmission main:** lift and carry raw water to the treatment plant where gravity is not enough. - **Treatment plant:** screening, plain sedimentation, coagulation and flocculation, filtration and disinfection make the water safe and clear. - **Clear water reservoir:** stores treated water and works as a buffer between plant output and pumping. - **Treated water pumping station and main:** lift water to the service reservoir or directly into the network. - **Service (distribution) reservoir:** stores water at a suitable elevation, meets peak demand, fire demand and emergencies, and keeps the pressure uniform. - **Distribution system:** the network of main, sub-main and branch pipes with valves, hydrants and fittings. - **Service connections:** house connections, public taps and hydrants that deliver water to users. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which sequence correctly lists treatment in the urban scheme? A. Disinfection, filtration, sedimentation, screening B. Sedimentation, screening, disinfection, filtration C. Filtration, screening, coagulation, sedimentation D. Screening, sedimentation, coagulation, filtration, disinfection Answer: D. The plant shown applies screening, sedimentation, coagulation, filtration and disinfection in that order. (Key point: Treatment plant stages) 2. What is the purpose of the service (distribution) reservoir? A. To draw raw water from the river B. To store water at suitable elevation for peak demand, fire demand and uniform pressure C. To remove turbidity D. To lift raw water to the plant Answer: B. It stores water at suitable height, meets peak, fire and emergency demand and keeps pressure uniform. (Key point: Service reservoir) 3. The intake works of an urban system: A. Disinfect the water B. Store treated water C. Distribute water to houses D. Draw the required raw water at good quality and keep out floating matter Answer: D. Intake draws the needed quantity of raw water from a good-quality level and excludes floating matter. 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