COMPARISON OF PUMPING SYSTEM AND GRAVITY SYSTEM

IN WATER DISTRIBUTION FROM RESERVOIR

Angelica M. Panganiban
Ron Kristian C. Panganiban
Regina Mae T. Sandoval

A research study manuscript submitted to the faculty of Department of Civil Engineering

and Architecture, College of Engineering and Information Technology, Cavite State
University, Indang, Cavite in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with
Contribution No. ______. Prepared under the supervision of Engr. John Paulo M. Perido.

INTRODUCTION

Residential areas settling in a different plane from the source water confront a

problem of procuring water for the daily necessities of its residents. Water is an essential

part of life of a human, human consumes water in a form of beverage and for cooking, for

personal hygiene, for washing dishes, and laundry. Inability to acquire water can cause a

lot of problems, inadequacy of water can cause unsanitary environment, by the reason of

water is an important factor not only for personal hygiene but also for a hygienic

environment, this problem can cause sickness for the community living within it.

Springs and river basin were common sources of water for residential areas, more

developed places requires larger supply in forms of major dams that distributes ample

amount for these places. The distribution of water was done through pumping system or

Gravity system. When the water is distributed through pumping system it means that the

recipient area is settled in a higher elevation than the source. Gravity system of water
distribution as it implies uses gravity to distribute water to its recipient area, which was

on a lower elevation than the source.

Statement of the Problem

Generally, study was to provide a comparison of pumping system and gravity

system in water distribution from reservoir.

Specifically, this study was done so as to answer the following questions:

1. How to define water source.

2. How to define factors affecting the water distribution system.

3. How to define gravity system.

4. How to pumping system.

Significance of the Study

This study will provide definition comparison of pumping system and gravity

system in water distribution from reservoir to meet the needs of consumers.

Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the study was the comparison of pumping system and

gravity system in water distribution from reservoir. It was specifically aims to:

1. Define water sources.

2. Define factors affecting the water distribution system.

3. Define gravity system.

4. Define pumping system.

 DISCUSSION

Sources of Water

The Earth is covered with large bodies of water, however, only 3% of these were

suitable for consumption. With these vast amount of water enveloping the planet

sometimes it seems unlikely communities to experience water shortage.According to

Kendra Young (2017), the following were the major sources of water:

Ground water - refers to any source of water that lies beneath the soil layer.

Ground water can exist in the soil itself or between rocks and other materials. Most

communities obtain their water from underground aquifers, or rock formations capable of

holding large amounts of freshwater.

Surface water - sources of surface water can include any above-ground

collection of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds and oceans. Some sources of surface

water are also fed by underground aquifers. Surface water accounts for 80 percent of the

water humans use.

Ocean water - Although ocean water makes up nearly 97 percent of all water on

earth, it is not a viable source of potable water unless salt and other impurities are

removed. Desalination, the process by which salt is removed from water, is a rapidly

growing practice.

Ice caps and Glacial Melting - Of the 3 percent of earth's water considered

freshwater, 70 percent of that small amount is currently locked in glaciers and ice caps. In

theory, frozen glacial and ice cap water could be melted and used, but the amount of

energy needed to melt and transport vast quantities of ice make it economically
impractical. Glaciers and ice caps also play vitally important roles in the regulation of

earth's climates and global temperatures, making their preservation very important.

Reservoir

A reservoir is an artificial lake where water is stored. Most reservoirs are formed

by constructing dams across rivers. A reservoir can also be formed from a natural lake

whose outlet has been dammed to control the water level. The dam controls the amount

of water that flows out of the reservoir. (Rutledge, McDaniel, Boudreau, Ramroop, Teng,

Sprout, and Costa, 2011)

Water Distribution System

The purpose of distribution system is to deliver water to consumer with

appropriate quality, quantity, and pressure. Distribution system is used to describe

collectively the facilities used to supply water from its source to the point of usage.

(Mohanty, 2012)

Gravity Water Distribution System

Gravity system of water supply is that system in which water flows under gravity

without use of any external energy to deliver water from source to tap stand. (Saud, 2015)

Pumping Water Distribution System

Bureau of Energy Efficiency of India cited that in a pumping system, the

objective, in most cases, is either to transfer a liquid from a source to required destination,
e.g. filling a high level reservoir, or to circulate liquid around a system, e.g. as a means of

heat transfer in heat exchanger. A pressure is needed to make the liquid flow at the

required rate and this must overcome head 'losses' in the system. Losses are of two types:

static and friction head.

 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

SUMMARY

The earth has two sources of water; groundwater and surface water. The

groundwater refers to the water beneath under soil layer. The surface water refers to the

water collects from precipitation through directly flows to reservoirs/dams, rivers, lakes,

seas and oceans. The purpose of distribution system is to deliver water to consumer with

appropriate quality, quantity, and pressure. Distribution system is used to describe

collectively the facilities used to supply water from its source to the point of usage.

(Mohanty, 2012). The some factors affecting water distribution are topographic area and

water source location. Gravity system of water supply is that system in which water flows

under gravity without use of any external energy to deliver water from source to tap stand.

(Saud, 2015). Bureau of Energy Efficiency of India cited that in a pumping system, the

objective, in most cases, is either to transfer a liquid from a source to required destination,

e.g. filling a high level reservoir, or to circulate liquid around a system, e.g. as a means of

heat transfer in heat exchanger. A pressure is needed to make the liquid flow at the

required rate and this must overcome head 'losses' in the system. Losses are of two types:

static and friction head.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of distribution system was to deliver water to consumer with

appropriate quality, quantity and pressure. Topographic area and water source location

are important factors in distributing water. A good water distribution system should be

capable of supplying water at all consumers' place with sufficient pressure. There are two
methods in water distribution; the gravity system and pumping system. In these research

paper, the researchers compared the gravity system and pumping system. Gravity system

of water supply is that system in which water flows under gravity without use of any

external energy to deliver water from source to tap stand. (Saud, 2015). While, the

pumping system, use power supply to pump the water directly from the distribution main

without stored. If the power supply fails there will be interruptions in water distribution.

Thus, gravity system is a reliable and economical water system. Yet, it requires that the

water source is located at high place of the community while the pumping system needs

power supply.
 LITERATURE CITED

YOUNG, KENDRA. 2017. Different Sources of Water. URL:

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RUTLEDGE, KIM., MCDANIEL, MELISSA., BOUDREAU, DIANE., RAMROOP,
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September 18, 2017