University of Raparin

Presidency of University of Raparin

Civil Engineering Department

Subject name:

Water Supply & Sewerage

Lecture 1

Fourth class:
Lectrures:
Asst Prof. Dr. Rawshan Othman [Link]@[Link]
Mr. Osama Khasraw [Link]@[Link]
 Lecture 1
Introduction to Water Supply & Sewerage Systems

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1) What is a Water supply system?
A water supply system is a network of infrastructure designed to deliver clean
and safe water to communities for domestic, industrial, and public use.

It typically includes components like

• water sources (e.g., rivers, lakes, groundwater)
• treatment facilities to purify the water
• storage reservoirs
• distribution networks

The system also involves pumping stations and plumbing within buildings to
ensure a consistent and reliable water flow. The primary goal of a water supply
system is to meet the water demands of a population while ensuring water quality
and safety.

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Fig. 1: Flow diagram of Water Supply system

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Sources of water:
Surface Water: Rivers, lakes, reservoirs.
Often easy to access and provides large quantities of water. Example: great zap river.

Groundwater: Aquifers, wells, and boreholes.

Often cleaner but may be limited in quantity.

Rainwater Harvesting: Capturing and storing rainwater for direct use. Suitable for
areas with sufficient rainfall.

Desalination: Conversion of seawater to potable water, used in coastal and water-

scarce regions.

Reclaimed Water: Treated wastewater reused for agricultural or industrial purposes.

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Fundamental considerations of water sources:
1. Water cycle in nature
The water exists in nature in several forms such as, Figure 3:
a) Solid status: snow, ice, ice bergs in North and South Poles.
b) Liquid status: Surface and groundwater.
c) Gases: such as humidity (moisture in air).

Fig. 2: water cycle

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2. Rain Fall and Surface Runoff

2.1 Rain Fall (Precipitation)

Precipitation (such as rain, snow, hail etc.) is a source of surface and groundwater.
Quantity of rain fall is not constant at any specific places, because there are many
uncountable factors affecting the amount of rain fall.

But, there are major factors which affect in some places on the amount of rain falls.

These factors are:

i) How far from the oceans.

ii) Elevation according to sea level.
iii) Geographical location.

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2. Rain Fall and Surface Runoff

2.2 Surface Runoff

It is important to know the amount of surface run-off.
But due to a number of factors it cannot be calculated exactly.
Surface runoff = Precipitation - Percolation - Evaporation

surface runoff for a specific area can be estimated by finding parameters such as surface
runoff coefficient for the area. It is changes from one place to other places,

Surface runoff commonly depends on the following factors,

i) Catchment area: Small or large area.
ii) Characteristics of the catchment area: Slope, vegetation, material etc.
iii) Intensity of rain fall.
iv) Shape of catchment area.
v) Intervals of rain fall.

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2. Rain Fall and Surface Runoff

2.2 Surface Runoff

Q = C* i*A
Q= discharge (m3/s), C= surface runoff coefficient (given in Refs.), A= catchment area
(m2), and i= intensity of rain fall (m/h)

Fig. 3: Catchment Areas

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3. Quantity Of Water in Nature

Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface and is vital for all known forms of life.
The amount estimated to be 1360* 106 km3. Among that only 2.5% (34*106 km3)
of the total Earth's amount water is fresh water.

The amount of fresh water decreases due to:

i) Increase in population as well as increase in the amount of water needed per person
ii) Increase in food production
iii) Increase in industrial production
iv) Lack in regulation for using and water pollution
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4. Sources of water supply

4.1 surface sources:

To select the suitable source for water supply the following factors to be considered:
i) Location and elevation of the source.
ii) Quantity of water in the source.
iii) Quality of water in the source.
iv) Cost of the system.

Fig. 4: greater-zab river

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The available surface water sources for water supply projects are:
A. Lakes
There are two types of lakes;
the first kind is a natural lake which mostly exists in mountains areas or sometimes in
plain areas.
The second type is impounded reservoir which performed by constructing weir, dam or
pond across the rivers or streams.

Fig. 5: Dukan Lake 12

The quantity of water in the lakes depends on:
• Basin capacity
• Catchment area
• Annual precipitation
• Porosity of the soil
• Evaporation

The advantages of impounded reservoirs /lakes are:

• To store surface water
• Balancing river water levels during rain and dry seasons
• Agriculture purposes
• Generating electricity power
• Increasing fish production
• Tourism purpose and source for water supply
.
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B. Rivers and Streams:
During the rain seasons, the amount of impurities is high due to surface runoff.
The impurities are suspended and dissolved solids, they are organic and inorganic.
In dry seasons, the amount of suspended solids in the rivers is less than the dissolved
solids.

Fig. 6: River Intake structure 14

4. Sources of water supply

4.2 Groundwater Sources:

Groundwater can be used as a source of water supply if the surface water does not exist
or it is not enough.
Normally, groundwater is used as a water source for supplying water to small cities.

Advantages of groundwater are:

• No need for purification, the only process is disinfection.
• The temperature is relatively constant. The quantity of stored water depends on:
• Amount of precipitation
• Capacity of bearing layers
• Geological formation of layers (permeability)

Fig. 4: greater-zab river

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Types of groundwater for water supply are:
A. Wells:
It is a vertical hole made in the ground surface to reach groundwater.
Capacity of the well depends on:
• Porosity of the bearing layers
• The quantity of water stored in the layers

Types of wells are:

1- Shallow wells
2- Deep wells
3- Artesian wells

Fig. 7: Types of wells and aquifers 16

B. Springs.
A spring is a natural water source where groundwater emerges from the earth. Springs
form due to underground pressure or when the water table meets the surface.

Types of Springs:
Gravity Springs: Water flows down slopes due to gravity.
Artesian Springs: Pressurized water is forced to the surface.

Fig. 8: Jali Spring, Koya District, Erbil Province

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 C. Infiltration galleries.
Infiltration galleries are horizontal, underground drainage systems designed to collect water
from permeable soils or riverbeds. They consist of perforated pipes or tunnels that allow
groundwater to seep in, providing a clean and continuous water supply for drinking or
irrigation.

Fig. 9: Infltration gallery structure

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5. Other sources of water supply:

Increasing in water consumption and decreasing the amount of fresh water in future are
factors for finding other sources for water supply in some places.

a) Desalination of sea water:

In some places when fresh water is not available in a sufficient amount, the amounts of
dissolved salts in the sea water decreases to an acceptable level then it can be used for
some domestic purposes.

b) Collection of rainwater
c) Reusing waste water after treatment:
i. It can be used for irrigation and washing purposes
ii. It can be mixed with the surface water
iii. It can be disposed to ground surface

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Video 1

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Water treatment plant:

Production Capacity: 10,000 m3/hr

Fig. 10: Ifraz (3) water treatment plant

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Water treatment plant:

Designed Capacity: 3000 m3/hr

Fig. 11: Darband water treatment plant

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2) What is a Sewerage system?
A sewerage system is a network of pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities
designed to collect, transport, and treat wastewater and stormwater from
residential, commercial, and industrial sources. Its primary purpose is to safely
remove and manage sewage and prevent environmental contamination and public
health hazards.

Types of sewerage systems include:

Combined Sewer System: Collects both sewage and stormwater in a single pipe.
During heavy rain, it can lead to overflows.

Separate Sewer System: Divides sewage and stormwater into two distinct
systems, reducing overflow risks and improving treatment efficiency.

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Fig. 12: Illustration of sewerage system

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Video 2

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References:
• Brandt M.J., Johnson K.M., Elphanston A.J., and Ratnayaka D.D. (2017) Twort’s
Water Supply, 7th Edition, Published by Elsevier Ltd.
• Davis, M. L. (2010) Water and Wastewater Engineering- Design Principles and
Practice, The McGraw Hill Companies.
• Steel, E.W. and McGhee, T.J. (1991).Water Supply and Sewerage. 6th edition.
International student edition.
• Aziz, S. Q. and Mustafa, J. S. (2019) Step-by-step design and calculations for water
treatment plant units, Advances in Environmental Biology, Vol. 13, No. 8, pp. 1-16.
• Omar, I. A. and Aziz, S. Q. (2020) Comparison and Assessment of Ifraz-2 and Qandil
Drinking Water Treatment Plant Units. 6th International Engineering Conference
“Sustainable Technology and Development" (IEC). , 26-27 February 2020, Erbil-
Iraq. IEEE Publisher.

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