Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
or less) or deep (more than 1000 feet). Including the approximately 23 mil-
lion Americans who use groundwater as private drinking water sources,
slightly more than half of the U.S. population receives its drinking water
from groundwater sources.
As the title of this chapter indicates, the sections that follow focus on the
conveyance and distribution of drinking water. For the purposes of expla-
nation, we simplify this stage of potable water systems and treatment by
postponing until
Chapter 10
our discussion of the treatment process that
most surface water undergoes before it is conveyed and distributed to the
consumer.
Surface Water and Groundwater Distribution Systems
Major water supply systems can generally be divided into two categories
based on the source of water they use. The water source, in turn, impacts the
design, construction, and operation of the water distribution systems. The
types of systems, classified by source (see
Figures 5.3
and
5.4
), are
• Surface water supply systems
• Groundwater supply systems
Surface water (acquired from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs) flows through an
intake structure into the transmission system (
Figure 5.3
). From a groundwa-
ter source, flow moves through an intake pipe and then is pumped through a
transmission conduit that conveys the water to a distribution system (
Figure
5.4
). Groundwater is generally available in most of the United States; however,
the amount available for withdrawal at any particular location is usually
Community Users
Treatment
Pump
Surface Source
WWTP
Outfall
Figure 5.3
Example of surface water supply system.
