SANITARY AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
A. Water Supply
- SEDIMENTATION – A method of purifying water wherein particles of matters that are suspended in the water are allowed to stay in a container so that they will settle in the bottom, then drawing the water out, leaving these matters in the container.
- Water is treated by giving CHEMICAL TREATMENTS to kill the harmful bacteria present and to cure the turbid taste or “mud taste”, remove clay, salts, iron, etc. commonly used treating liquids is chlorine.
- Water is purified by FILTRATION. In various processes, so as to remove the particles of vegetable matter, mud, and other particles of matter present in the water, the most commonly used materials are sand and gravel.
- Raw water is made to pass on pipes of tiny sieves (strainers) and exposed to air of fine mist to purify it. This is called the AERATION method.
- A PUMP is water equipment used whenever the water supply at its natural pressure cannot be directly piped to a building, tank, or reservoir.
- LIFT PUMP consists of a piston traveling up and down within a cylinder which is connected with a pipe extending down into the source. The piston and the bottom of the cylinder are each provided with a valve opening upward. Upon the piston’s upstroke, valve ‘A’ closes and valve ‘B’ opens. Upon the piston’s down stroke valve ‘A’ opens and ‘B’ closes.
- FORCE PUMP is used to deliver water at a point higher than the position of the pump itself. When the plunger (a piston) descends, valve ‘A’ is closed and water in the cylinder is forced out through valve ‘B’ and up to the storage. When the plunger is raised, valve ‘B’ is closed and ‘A’ open to admit water to the cylinder. [A pump that uses pressure to move liquid]
- SUBMERSIBLE PUMP – A kind of pump attached to the end of a deep well pipe enclosed in a casing where the pump is capable of functioning while submerged.
- SUMP – underground container for waste matter: a covered
underground tank or well for the collection of waste matter and
water, especially sewage. - CISTERN TANK – a reservoir, tank, or vessel for storing or holding water or other liquids
- WATER TANK – may be used either for the collection of water without consideration of pressure, or for storing water under air pressure or under a static head for future distribution by pneumatic or gravity means. Materials are PVC, G.I., reinforced concrete, stainless steel, or plain steel.
- A SUCTION TANK is a tank constructed of riveted or welded steel plate; the larger tanks often being divided into two compartments. They should be large enough to contain at least
one day’s supply for the entire building in case the city main is temporarily shut off. The pipe from the pump to the tank should be across connected to the city main so that the water may be pumped directly from the main in case of fire. These tanks are used so that the pneumatic tank or other pumps suck the water from this tank and not from the public main so that it will not deprive the neighbors of water due to pressure. - PNEUMATIC TANK – A tank using air pressure from a suction tank to distribute water for tall buildings which cannot be reached by normal pressure.
- UP FEED SYSTEM-Water is distributed from the normal water pressure coming from the public water main, for low-rise buildings.
- DOWN FEED SYSTEM– By gravity, water is distributed from overhead water tanks and is supported either by structural frames or on the roof decks. Fixtures are below the gravity tank. These elevated tanks are installed when normal water supply from the main public service pipes is not frequent and when normal pressure from the city main is not enough to force the water to the highest fixtures.
- SERVICE PIPE – The pipe from the public water main or source of water supply to the building served.
- The vertical supply pipe which extends upward from one floor to the next is called a RISER and the horizontal pipes that serve the faucets are called BRANCHES.
B. Water Supply
- WATER MAIN refers to the public water system laid underground along the streets where the house service is connected.
- GOOSENECK. One end is 0.30M and the other end is 0.90M long. This prevents the pipe from snapping when the soil settles.
- CORPORATION COCK. A stop valve in a service pipe close to its connection with a water main.
- BUSHING. A kind of G.I. fitting is used as a reducer from a bigger diameter to a lesser diameter.
- UNION. A G.I. fitting which is used when a pipe has already been installed but dismantling is difficult.
- Excessive pressure produces a rumbling sound called the WATER HAMMER. This occurs when a valve is suddenly turned off and causes the water to stop, forcing the pipes to shake to reduce this, an additional 0.30m to 0.90m length of pipe is added to the riser to give air pressure which absorbs it.
- STREET ELBOW or TEE. A kind of G.I. fitting that has one end with external threads, while the other end has internal threads.
- To insure no leakage, a G.I. pipe when threaded has to use lead liquid or TEFLON tape around the thread before tightening the fittings.
- uPVC means: UNPLASTICIZED POLYVINYL CHLORIDE pipe
- GATE VALVES. This consists of a wedge-shaped plug that is screwed down to the seat between two brass rings surrounding the inlet pipe so that a double seal is obtained. The inlet and outlet are in a straight line. This valve is used when a normal fully open or closed position is desired. Either end may be used as an inlet.
- CHECK VALVES. These valves are used when it is desired that the flow through a pipe be always in one direction and there is a possibility of a flow taking place in the opposite direction. One type has a pivoted flap which is readily pushed open by the pressure of water from one side but is tightly closed by the force of a reverse flow.
- CASING. A material used as a covering, such as a pipe bigger than the main pipe of a deep well so that the main pipe can be pulled out for repair.
- OVERHEAD HEIGHT. This is the vertical distance from the higher source of water or overhead tank to the outlet (faucets, shower head) and is distributed by gravity.
- WATER TABLE. Subsurface conditions of groundwater and rock must be known. Sites with subsurface are about 1.80m to 2.40m below grade and can cause problems with excavations, foundations, utility placement, and landscaping. This is described as a level underground in which the soil is situated with water.
- PIPE CHASE. An opening or space to accommodate a group of pipes.
- When the water supply of a very tall building is designed as a unit, the required capacities or tanks, pumps, and piping become unduly large, and excessive pressures are developed in lower portions of the downfeed risers. The buildings, therefore, are divided into horizontal sections or GROUPING, and to design the hot and cold water supply systems separately for each.