Weeks 1 & 2

1. Sketch and label a water resource system including:

a) Source
b) Collection works
c) Transmission works
d) Treatment works
e) Distribution works

2. Define the term water demand as applied to water management.

The most common characteristic of water demand is that it keeps on increasing relentlessly over the
years. The chief influencing factors associated for this rise are mainly; population growth, changes in
lifestyle, demographic structure and climate change. To meet this increasing demand from existing and
limited water resources, is an uphill struggle. The two major responses to such a situation is based on
demand and supply.

On the demand side, the major issue is to manage consumptive demand, such that the need to develop
new resources can be postponed or simply avoided, whereas on the supply side, to meet the existing
demand with new resources seems to be fundamental to cope with the forthcoming challenges.
Emphasis is now being shifted towards managing water demand. Water management involves the
adoption of policies or investment by a water utility to achieve efficient use by all members of the
community. A water demand management plan needs to be devised and this may involve a wide range
of demand management issues, including; cost-reflective pricing, universal customer meeting,
reduction of water use by water utilities, use of reclaimed water and water use restriction amongst
others.
This type of water management plan can be over a short term period or long term one. Strategic planning
will play a major role for a successful demand management plan.
3. What are the major factors that influence water consumption in a major way?
The 2 major factors affecting which influence water consumption worldwide are:
1. An increasing population growth.
The global population is expected to reach 7 billion by the year 2020. Each inhabitant needs a
considerable amount of water every day to be able to sustain life on the planet and with an increasing
number of the inhabitants, the water consumption follows a proportional relationship.
2. Continued growth of industrialisation in under-developped and developing countries together with
an increase in economic activities worldwide.
Increase in the above-mentioned activities definitely lead to an increased water consumption.
4. Define the indexing system as applied to water quality, defining the advantages, importance
and limitations.
A water-quality index is a dimensionless number, which combines multiple water quality factors into a
single number by normalizing values to subjective rating curves. The factors that determine a particular
index directly depends on water uses and sources. Some of the main factors may include; pH,
temperature, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the total amount
of Coliform bacteria amongst others. The afore-mentioned factors occur in different ranges and are
expressed in different units. The complex scientific information about them are then taken and
synthesized into a single number called the water quality index (WQI).
The WQI is based on water quality objectives set by different countries and these indexes can be
appreciated and understood by the common man.
The main advantages of such an indexing system are:
1. Water quality objectives have been developped for more than 140 separate bodies of water, i.e., a
different indexing system relates to each type of water body and hence is more flexible.
2. The WQI allows a great flexibility since it can accommodate changes due to new scientific
information at any time.
3. It is not bound by any limits on data use because water quality objectives exist for different variables,
ranging from simple water columns to complex water reserves.
However, such an indexing system can also have disadvantages. The main one is that some parameters
governing the index, for a particular water body, can have disproportionate influence on the final
number, thus producing a biased index.

5. What is the per capita of domestic water consumption and what is the amount of water
consumed by a dye -house?
According to the latest Central Water Authority statistics, the per capita of domestic water consumption
per day was 212 litres in 2013. This represents an increase of 4 litres, compared to the previous year.
According to information gathered from a representative working in a dye-house situated in the
industrial zone of Plaine Lauzun, the amount of water consumed per day is approximately 1200 to 1500
litres.

Week 3
1. Differentiate between pH and acidity and find their respective means of measurement.
pH is a measure of the relative acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. A solution with a pH less than
7 is said to be acidic, whereas that with a pH of greater than 7 is said to be basic. Water, considered to
be neutral, has a pH of 7 (theoretically). Mathematically, pH is defined as lg [H+], where [H+] refers
to the concentration of hydroxyl ions in the solution. The 3 main means to measure pH are by;
1. Using a probe and a meter.
2. Using litmus paper.
3. A field kit.
The most accurate and reliable one is the probe and the meter.
Acidity is different to pH although both are very closely related. Acidity refers to the tendency of a
solution to hydrogenate or neutralise a reference base. The latter is usually a standard solution of
aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Acidity can be determined by titration of a specific solution against
a base of standard concentration. The extent to which the solution is acidic will determine on the end
point of the indicator used in the titration and the volume (or concentration) of base having been
neutralised.
2. Differentiate between discrete and flocculent particles.
Flocculent particles are those which collide and attach to one another, thus increasing in size. As they
grow in size, they have a tendency to settle at a faster rate.
Contrary to flocculent particles, discrete particles are those which remain separate. They do not coalesce
with other particles. Their rate of settling is much slower than flocculent particles.
3. List the different water treatment plants in Mauritius and their respective distribution
network(s).
1. Pailles treatment plant - The West of the island (districts Port Louis and Black River).
2. La Nicoliere treatment plant The North of the island (districts Pamplemousses and Riviere du
Rempart).
3. Piton du Milieu treatment plant The East of the island (Flacq district).
4. Riviere du Poste and Mont Blanc treatment plants The South of the island (districts Grand Port and
Savanne).
5. La Marie treatment plant Upper Central Plateau (Moka district).
6. Mare aux Vacoas water supply system Lower Central Plateau (Plaines Wilhems district).

Week 4
1. How is the settling velocity of non-spherical particles catered for as far as sedimentation is
concerned?
Empirical formulae have been devised for the settling velocities of non-spherical particles such as sand
or gravel particles:
-

For the laminar region, considered for non-spherical particles smaller than 0.1 mm, the Stokes
equation is written as:

For the transition zone, where d is between 0.1 and 1 mm, the Budryck equation is used:

The turbulent regime of settling is estimated to occur for sand particles larger than 1mm. This is
described by Rittingers equation:

It is to be noted that:
1. Vt represents settling velocity.
2. d represents diameter of the non-spherical particle.
3. Ss represents the specific density of the non-spherical solid.
4. Sf represents the specific density of the fluid in which the non-spherical solid is settling.

2. Write Stokes equation in terms of specific gravity.

V =

4 (.. )
3

V: terminal velocity
g: acceleration due to gravity
d: diameter of particle
S.Gp: specific gravity of particle
S.Gf: specific gravity of fluid
Cd: coefficient of viscous drag

3. Compare between the settling velocities of a spherical particle with that of a nonspherical particle.
As compared to spherical particles, non-spherical ones have areas which spread more in certain
directions than others. Thus, more drag force acts upon non-spherical particles and the resultant
force is thus smaller for non-spherical ones than spherical ones. As a result, the downward
velocity of non-spherical particles is lower than that of spherical particles.
4. Determine the settling velocity of a spherical particle having a diameter of 6 mm and a
specific gravity of 2.65.
Density of water at 22 degrees = 997 kg/m3
g = 9.81 m/s -2
Coefficient of dynamic viscosity = 9.2 x 10-4 Ns/m2
Specific gravity = 2.65
Therefore, density of particle = 2.65 x 997 = 2642.05 kg/m3
Vt = d2 g (density of particle - density of water) / (18 x coefficient of dynamic viscosity)
By replacing appropriate values, the settling velocity is calculated as 35.1 ms-1 .
5. Determine the settling velocity of a worn out sand particle, having an assumed diameter
of 0.6 mm and specific gravity of 2.65. Assume settling type I.
d = 1.24 0.337 dp
= 0.64 for angular particles.
= 0.77 for sharp particles.
= 0.86 for worn out sand particles.
By replacing appropriately in the equation for the true diameter of the particle, the latter is found to be
0.000707 m.
Thus, its settling velocity is calculated as 0.49 ms -1 .

6. What are the applications of the following clarifiers?

a. solid contact
b. inclined surface
c. stacked.
Solid contact clarifiers have the ability to act both as an enhanced flocculation device as well as a high
rate chemical precipitator. Mixing, internal solids recirculation, gentle flocculation and gravity
sedimentation are all combined in a single unit. Its main applications are:
i. Surface water clarification
ii. Pre-treatment to conventional filtration
iii. acid mine drainage

iv. cold lime softening

v. pre-treatment to membranes.
Inclined plate clarifiers are mainly designed to remove and thicken suspended and flocculated solids
from industrial wastes and wastewaters in one step. Their main uses involve:
i. treatment of groundwater, industrial process water and backwash from sand filters.
Stacked clarifiers are primarily used in areas where the land for the treatment plant is limited. It has
broadly similar applications as the two above-mentioned types of clarifiers.