Module 1

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM BASIC

OPERATIONS

Workbook

Financial/Managerial Series
This course includes content developed by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the
following grantees:
RCAP Solutions, Inc.
Penn State Harrisburg Environmental Training Center
 Training Module 1
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM BASIC OPERATIONS

Objectives:

By the end of the course, the learners should be able to:

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the two main

water sources for municipal drinking water systems.

Identify the basic components of a water treatment system.

Identify the basic components of a water distribution system.

Explain the function and necessity of each component.

Table of Contents

Introduction p. 2
Drinking Water Sources p. 2
Basic Water Treatment Processes p. 4
Distribution System p. 17
Summary p. 21
Resources and References p. 23

1
Introduction

#1

During this training module, we’ll be describing:

Advantages and disadvantages of the two main water sources

for municipal drinking water systems;
Basic components of a water treatment system;
Basic components of a water distribution system; and
Function and necessity of each component.

Drinking Water Sources

#2

There are two main sources of drinking water, Surface Water and
Groundwater.

Surface Water sources typically include Rivers, Streams, Lakes,

Reservoirs. Groundwater under the direct influence of Surface Water
(GWUDI), such as Springs, is another Surface Water source.

Groundwater sources include Aquifers and other sub-surface water,

such as Wells.

#3

There are a number of advantages associated with using surface

water as the source for your drinking water system.

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Surface water is easily accessible and there can be large volumes of
water available.

Additionally, since your treatment technology will be designed for

surface water, you can utilize surface reservoirs for storage.

#4

Of course, there can be a number of disadvantages associated with

using surface water as the source for your drinking water system.
Surface water can be exposed to environmental pollutants such as
agricultural runoff and disease-causing organisms. Groundwater is
less susceptible to these. All water supplies have security issues;
surface water can be more vulnerable than groundwater.

Additionally, since your treatment technology will be designed for

surface water, it typically requires filtration equipment that may be
more costly than groundwater treatment equipment.

#5

There are a number of advantages associated with using

groundwater as the source for your drinking water system.

Groundwater usually requires less treatment than surface water.

Fairly consistent flow, quality, and temperature can make operation of

treatment equipment easier.

Additionally, more sites are available for wells than surface water
intakes for small, isolated communities.

3
 #6

Of course, there can be a number of disadvantages associated with

using groundwater as the source for your drinking water system.

Although not as susceptible as surface water, groundwater can still

be subject to contamination by agricultural and domestic chemicals.
Once contamination occurs, it may be long-lasting and difficult to
remove.

It can also be subject to high levels of hardness and nitrates along

with problems from iron and manganese content.

Additionally, multiple wells may be required to supply a community.

Property issues such as condemnation, leasing, and location of wells
are also concerns.

Wellhead protection zone maintenance can be problematic.

Basic Water Treatment Processes

#7

The following graphic depicts the typical groundwater treatment

processes you will encounter.

Clear
Disinfection Well

Ground
Water Pumps

4
 #8

Groundwater treatment is fairly straightforward. The disinfection of

groundwater is similar to that of surface water. This will be covered
later in the module.

#9

The following graphic depicts the conventional surface water

treatment processes you will encounter.

Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &

Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

The following slides will describe each major process in greater

detail.

#10

The following graphic highlights the racks and screens.

5
 Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &
Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

#11

Racks and screens prevent algae, leaves, debris, and fish from
entering the system.

This includes pipes, and possibly pumps, to carry the water to the
facility.

As an analogy, you may want to think about straining pasta in the

kitchen.

#12

The following graphic highlights the mixing process.

6
 Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &
Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

#13

In the mixing process, chemical coagulant is mixed with source water

to bring the suspended particles in contact with each other.

#14

The following graphic highlights the coagulation and flocculation

processes.

7
 Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &
Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

#15

Coagulation and flocculation aid in filtration by increasing the size of

the solids to be filtered and aid sedimentation by making the bound
solids settle easier.

Removing solids makes the disinfection process more efficient since

microorganisms can be trapped in the solids that are removed during
coagulation and flocculation.

Making cheese by adding bacteria to form larger curds is a good

analogy.

#16

The following graphic highlights the sedimentation process.

8
 Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &
Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

#17

Sedimentation occurs in basins following coagulation and

flocculation.

Sedimentation is the process of removing solids from the water.

Basically, sedimentation is the same as settling solids out of the
water.

By settling solids from the water, the water treatment filters do not get
blocked as quickly.

Periodically the settled solids must be removed from the

sedimentation tanks.

An analogy to consider is Italian salad dressing with solids that settle

over time.

#18

The following graphic highlights the filtration process.

9
 Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &
Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

#19

Filters remove solids suspended in the water. Types of solids include

soil particles and microorganisms. Solids are removed by physical,
chemical, and biological actions.

Physical action is similar to straining.

Chemical action includes adsorption (binds to) and absorption.

Biological action refers to “good” bacteria in the filter controlling

unwanted harmful bacteria.

The following slides detail a few of the major filtration technologies.

These include Slow Sand, Conventional, Direct, Diatomaceous Earth,
Membrane, and Bag and Cartridge. Conventional filtration is the
most common filtration technology in PA. Membrane filtration is
becoming increasingly common.

10
 #20

Slow Sand has the following characteristics:

Low cost
No coagulation and flocculation
High land requirement
Limited range of turbidity

Conventional Filtration has the following characteristics:

Uses a filter bed with sand, anthracite coal, and mineral sands
Activated carbon may be added to remove odors, improve
taste, and adsorb organic compounds

#21

Direct Filtration has the following characteristics:

Similar to conventional filtration but omits sedimentation and

only applicable for high quality and seasonally consistent water
supplies
Requires advanced operator skills

Diatomaceous Earth has the following characteristics:

Uses diatomaceous earth (chalk-like material) on a filter

element in a pressurized vessel
Most suitable for water with low turbidity and bacterial counts
Chemical coagulation is not required

11
 #22

Membrane Filtration has the following characteristics:

Various types (micro-, ultra-, and nano-) all using porous

membrane materials that remove contaminants under pressure
High quality source water or pretreatment required
Relatively expensive but capital costs are continuing to decline

Bag and Cartridge Filters have the following characteristics:

Simple options for small systems, relying on physical removal,

but issues of reliability remain
High quality source water or pretreatment required

#23

The following graphic highlights the disinfection process.

Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &

Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

12
 #24

Disinfection is required because other treatment processes do not

remove all disease-causing organisms.

The most common disinfection process involves the use of chlorine,

an oxidizing chemical.

Other disinfection options include ozone and ultraviolet radiation.

The disinfection needs to be maintained in storage and distribution

and can be boosted at other points in the system.

#25

Disinfection with chlorine can be performed with a variety of

compounds.

Chlorine Gas:

Adequate mixing and contact time must be provided after

injection to ensure disinfection
Can be dangerous and potentially lethal if handled improperly
and released to the atmosphere
This is a critical safety concern. Remember – Safety First!

Sodium Hypochlorite:

Available as a solution of 5 – 15% chlorine

Safer to handle but highly corrosive

13
 #26

Calcium Hypochlorite:

Solid white substance that dissolves easily in water (65%

chlorine)
Corrosive and can cause fire or explosion with organic
materials

Chlorine may combine with organics to form trihalomethane (THM)

compounds which are carcinogenic. EPA will be requiring the
removal of these compounds from certain systems.

#27

Disinfection with ultraviolet radiation (UV) penetrates cell walls of

organisms and inhibits reproduction although it may not inactivate
cryptosporidium or giardia cysts.

UV disinfection produces no toxic residuals.

UV disinfection has short contact times and is easy to operate.

UV is not commonly used since it does not leave a chemical residual

in the water like chlorine. In general, when chlorine is used and
tasted at the tap, the entire pipe to your home has been disinfected.

It is unsuitable for water with high turbidity levels, color, or soluble

organic matter, since the UV light cannot penetrate the water with
solids in it.

14
 #28

Disinfection with Ozone is another option.

A powerful oxidizing agent (O3) is formed by passing dry air through a

system of high voltage electrodes.

Ozone requires shorter contact time than chlorine.

Capital costs may be high.

Operation and maintenance are relatively complex.

#29

Other treatment processes you may encounter include Iron and

Manganese Removal and Corrosion Control.

The need for these will depend on characteristics of the water source
for the system.

#30

Iron and manganese can be removed by various oxidation and

filtration techniques. This mainly occurs in the treatment of
groundwater.

This includes:

Simple cascade aeration; requires no chemicals

Sequestration with polyphosphates followed by chlorination or
potassium permanganate (no solids or filtration needed)

15
 Ion exchange with manganese greensand filtration

#31

Corrosion control is important because corrosive water can cause

metal pipes, etc., to disintegrate and also dissolve lead in old pipes
and solder.

Corrosion can be reduced by adjusting pH and alkalinity, softening

the water, and changing the level of dissolved oxygen.

#32

Let’s see what you’ve learned so far. Fill in the blank for the following
statements.

1. There are two main sources of drinking water: _________

Water and _____________.
2. ___________ water is easily exposed to environmental
pollutants such as chemicals and disease-causing
organisms.
3. ________ and ________ prevent algae, leaves, debris,
and fish from entering the system.
4. In the __________ process, chemical coagulant is mixed
with source water to bring the suspended particles in
contact with each other.
5. _____________ and ____________ aid in disinfection by
increasing the size of the solids to be filtered and aid
sedimentation by making the bound solids settle easier.
6. _____________ will decrease solids loading on the filters.
7. Italian dressing is an analogy for ______________.
8. _____________ remove suspended solids and floc (silt,
clay, bacteria, plankton, etc).

16
 9. _____________ is required because other treatment
processes do not remove all disease-causing organisms.

Distribution System

#33

The main components of a Water Distribution System include:

Pumps
Storage facilities
Transmission mains
Valves and hydrants
Meters

#34

Pumps provide lift to move water from the plant to elevated storage
areas.

The majority of the line pressure is not provided by pumps but by

storage elevation of the water which creates “head” that provides the
pressure. However, many systems use booster pumps to provide
additional pressure in areas that need it.

Pumps are a major portion of the O&M costs of the water system.

#35

Storage Facilities can consist of the following:

17
 Clear wells
Stand pipes
Elevated storage tanks

#36

The following graphic highlights the clear well.

Bar Traveling Mixing Coagulation &

Rack Screen Flocculation

Raw
Water

Clear
Well Disinfection Filtration Sedimentation

Pumps Sludge

#37

Clear wells are large concrete basins for storing treated water at the
treatment facility or in the distribution system.

A clear well allows the treatment plant to operate at a constant rate,

building up reserves during low-use hours and maintaining supply
during peak-use hours. It also can allow for additional contact time
with disinfectants.

18
 #38

Stand Pipes are tanks located on the ground, usually at higher

elevations.

They require little maintenance and are ideal in situations where

relatively low water pressure is required.

#39

Elevated Storage Tanks have supporting structures to elevate the

tank to provide additional head (pressure).

They use gravity to pressurize water through the distribution system.

Storage tanks are typically filled in off-peak hours and monitored to

maintain sufficient water pressure during high-use periods. An
example of a high use period is early morning and mid-evening.

#40

There are different ways that transmission main systems can be

designed.

Branching systems have dead-end lines that can cause taste and
odor problems due to stale water in the ends of the lines.

Branching systems must be flushed out periodically. This is usually

completed by releasing water in a systematic way from fire hydrants.

Loop or grid systems eliminate dead ends and provide more water in
high-demand situations, such as fire fighting.

19
 #41

There are different materials that can be used for transmission mains.
The following are the most common:

Cast iron:

Has great strength and high resistance to corrosion

May last 100 years
Most iron pipe now has a thin coating of cement mortar to
prevent tuberculation (rusting) and reduce friction

Ductile iron:

Stronger, more ductile (flexible) and lighter than cast iron

Often coated with cement mortar to reduce internal corrosion

Plastic (polyvinylchloride or PVC):

Low initial cost

Lightweight
Resistant to corrosion
Low resistance to flow
More susceptible to crushing
Cannot be thawed electrically

#42

Valves are installed at intervals in the distribution system so that

segments can be shut off for maintenance and repair.

They help to control the direction of flow and can control pressure by
restricting flow from high to low-pressure areas.

20
Wet barrel hydrants are full of water at all times and can only be used
where there is no danger of freezing. Due to freezing, these are not
generally used in PA.

Dry barrel hydrants have a valve located at the bottom of the barrel to
control flow into the hydrant. There is no water held within the
hydrant.

#43

Meters are placed throughout the distribution system to measure the

flow to main supply lines, pumping stations, connections to other
utility systems and individual users.

They are used for billing purposes and to identify areas of water loss.

Metered billing will promote lower customer use and encourage

conservation.

Old meters often under-record use; systems should have a

standardized meter replacement program.

Summary

#44

Before we review the key points of the module, let’s see what you’ve
learned so far. Take a few minutes to fill in the graphic in your
workbooks and answer the questions beneath it. You can look back
through your workbooks if you need.

21
 1.___ 2. ________ 3. _____ 4. _________
___ ________ _________

Raw
Water

8. _____
_____ 7. _________ 6. ______ 5. __________

Pumps Sludge

1. A clear well allows the treatment plant to operate at a ________

rate, building up reserves during low-use hours and maintaining
supply during peak-use hours.
2. __________ are installed at intervals in the distribution system
so that segments can be shut off for maintenance and repair.
3. Pumps are a major portion of the ____________ costs of the
water system.
4. __________ are placed throughout the distribution system to
measure the flow to main supply lines, pumping stations,
connections to other utility systems and individual users.
5. __________ provide lift to move water from the plant to
elevated storage areas.

#45

The key points of this module are:

Water systems can differ in many areas but most have the
basic components in treatment and distribution.

Knowledge of the basic components of the water treatment

system can help you make better decisions relating to the
system.

22
 Knowledge of the basic components of the water distribution
system can help you make better decisions relating to the
system.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of water

source.

Resources and References

#46

The following are references and resources you can use for
additional information:

PA Department of Environmental Protection, Technical Assistance

and Outreach, (717) 772-4058, Dennis Lee

RCAP Solutions, Inc., (814) 861-6093

Don Schwartz, PA/NJ Program Manager

Penn State Harrisburg Environmental Training Center

National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (West Virginia University)

Tech Briefs for Small Water Systems – “Treatment technologies for
Small Drinking Water Systems”

Drinking Water Handbook for Public Officials (December 1992; EPA-

810-B92-016)

Drinking Water and Wastewater Handbook for Local Officials

(October 2000; Maryland Center for Environmental Training under
EPA Contract)

The complete list of training modules includes:

Module 1, Water Supply System Basic Operations

23
Module 2, Responsibilities of Governing Boards
Module 3, The Safe Drinking Water Act
Module 4, Dealing with Consultants, Technical Assistance
Providers, Regulators, and Funding Agencies
Module 5, The Basics of Accounting and Finance for Small
Water Systems
Module 6, Business Planning for Small Water Systems
Module 7, Budgeting and Capital Improvements Planning
Overview for Small Water Systems
Module 8, Rate Design Overview for Small Water Systems
Module 9, Bidding, Purchasing, and Leasing
Module 10, Project Management Overview for Small Water
Systems

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