Question bank with Answer

EN8491-Water supply Engineering

Unit I

1. What are the main objectives of treating water? (Apr/May-2011).

(i) To remove colour, dissolved gases, and murkiness of water

(ii) To remove objectionable tastes and odour
(iii) To remove disease producing micro organism to provide safe drinking water
(iv) To remove hardness of water
(v) To make water suitable for many industrial purposes brewing, dyeing and
steam generation

2. Enumerate the components of a water supply scheme. (Apr/May-2011)

(Apr/May-2013)
Collection works, Treatment works, Transmission works, Distribution works

3. What is Design Period? List any two factors influencing it.

(Nov/Dec- 2011) (Nov/Dec-2012) (Nov/Dec-2013) (Nov/Dec-2010)
This time after completion of the project is called “design period”. It is
expressed in years. During design period, the structures, equipment and
components should be adequate to serve the requirements. As per normal
procedure water works is designed for a period of 30 years.

4. State the Purposes of carrying out water quality

characterisation? (Nov/Dec-2011)
o To identify physical, chemical and biological characteristic nature of water
o To analyse the water quality in comparison with drinking water standards
o To identify water quality for recommendation of treatment methods
o To identify pollution levels in water for protecting water sources

5. List out the various water demand encountered in society? (Apr/May-

2012)
Domestic demand, Public demand, Industrial demand, Commercial demand, Fire
demand, losses and wastes
6. What are the assumptions in an incremental increase method to forecast
population? (Apr/May-2012)

Growth rate is assumed to be progressively increasing or decreasing,

depending upon whether the average of the incremental increases in the past
is positive or negative. The population for a future decade is worked out by
adding the mean arithmetic increase to the last known population as in the
arithmetic increase method and to this is added the average of incremental
increases, once for first decade, twice for second and so on.
Pn = P+nI + (n (n+1)/2)*r

7. What is the objective of water supply scheme? (Nov/Dec-2012)

(Nov/Dec-2013)(Nov/Dec-2014)
(i) To supply safe and wholesome water to consumers
(ii) To supply water in adequate quantity
(iii) To make water easily available for encouraging personal and
household cleanliness.
8. What are the acceptable quality standards as per BIS 10500: 1983 for
flouride and nitrates? (Apr/May-2013)
Flourides – 1 mg/l, Nitrates – 45 mg/l

9. How to determine the storage need for an impounding

reservoir? (Apr/May-2014)
Mass curve diagram
method Analytical
calculation method
10. Distinguish carbonate and non carbonate hardness? (Nov/Dec-2014)
Carbonate hardness non carbonate hardness
Caused by carbonate and bicarbonate Caused by sulphates and chlorides of
salts of calcium and magnesium calcium and magnesium salts
Causes temporary hardness Causes permanent hardness
Removed by heating and excess lime Removed by special water softening
treatment methods

11. Distinguish between Shallow and deep well? (Apr/May-2015)

Shallow well Deep well
A shallow well is one where the primary A deep well is one which is having water
source of water is an unconfined aquifer supply from a confined aquifer
Withdraws water from ground water table Withdraws water from deep under
and rain water percolates through ground water table
soil to improve yield in well
 12. Give the maximum acceptable limit of the following for the
public drinking water
(a) Colour (b) pH (c) Chlorides (d) Sulphates (Nov/Dec-2010)
Colour – 5 to 25
cobalt units pH – 6.5
to 8.5
Chlorides – 200 to 1000 mg/l
Sulphates – 200 to 400 mg/l

13. What is infiltration Gallery?

A horizontal nearly horizontal tunnel which is constructed through water bearing

strata for tapping underground water near rivers, lakes or streams are called
“Infiltration galleries.

14. What is an Artesian well?

The Artesian well is a source of underground-water spring in which the water is

stored under pressure.
Flow is through confined aquifer.
It will yield a Uniform quantity of flow
In artesian wells since the water oozes out in pressure, they are able to provide
high yield.

15. Define deep well.

A water well, an excavation or structure created to access groundwater in
underground aquifers. In Deep well drilling, the process of drilling a well to a
depth of 10,000 feet or more.
16. Define spring.

A spring is a water resource formed when the side of a hill, a valley bottom or
other excavation intersects a flowing body of groundwater at or below the local
water table, below which the subsurface material is saturated with water.
17. State the factors governing the selection of particular water source.
 1. The quantity of water available
2. The quality of water available
3. Distance of the source of supply
4. Elevation of source of supply
5. Cost.
18. Write down the methods to calculate fire demand.

1. American Insurance Association

2. Kuchling's Formula
3. Freeman's Formula
4. Ministry of Urban Development Manual Formula

19.What is per capita demand?

It is the annual average amount of daily water required by one person and it
includes the domestic use, industrial & commercial uses, Public use, wastes,
thefts etc.

Mathematically

Total yearly water requirement of the city in litres(v)

Per capita Demand=
365 X Design Population
1. Briefly discuss about the various types of aquifers with neat sketch.

Aquifers are classified in terms of their structure, hydraulic performance,

texture, lithology, and the mobility of their water.

As to their structure and hydraulic behavior they can be classified into “free”,
“unconfined” or “semi confined”. The same aquifer may be free, confined and
semi-confined by sector and area of study.
The “free” aquifer is such in which there is free shallow water in contact with
air and atmospheric pressure, so that its pressure is actually equal to the
atmospheric pressure. This type of aquifer does not have a layer of waterproof
material above them.

An unconfined aquifer groundwater level coincides with the surface and is in

direct contact with the soil under saturated zone. Its position varies depending
on the rainy season or the dry season.

“Confined” aquifers are those bodies of water that accumulate in the permeable
rock and are enclosed between two impermeable layers.
In these aquifers water is subjected to a pressure greater than the one of the
atmosphere and takes up all pores and voids of the geological formation
completely saturating it. There is an “unsaturated zone”

If this type of aquifer is drilled, the water level will rise to be in a position
corresponding to the saturation level in the aquifer recharge area.

The water is subjected to a pressure greater than atmospheric and rainwater is

received only in areas where the materials are permeable in various points
generally different where the body of water lies.

A “semi-confined” aquifer occurs when the layer of soil that covers the aquifer
has significantly less permeability than the aquifer itself, but is not waterproof,
allowing discharge and recharge occurs through this stratum.
The wall and/or roof are not completely waterproof and allow the vertical
filtration of water, so water can be recharged or lost through the roof or base.

According to the mobility of water an aquifer can be classified into “aquifer”

“aquitard,” “aquicludes” among others. Water velocity depends on the porosity

and percolation of the rock at a rate of 1 centimeter per year.

The “aquifer” store and transmit groundwater usually through porous sands and
limestone.

The “aquitard” are good storage but bad transmitters, which transmit
groundwater slowly (for example, compounds of silts).

The “aquicludes” are good storages but null transmitters (for instance, clays)

The “acuifugos” do not store or transmit water, as those made of granite, or

uncracked quartzites.
2. Write down the water quality standards for drinking purpose as per B. I. S.

The objective of water works management is to provide water free from

Pathogens, undesirable taste, odour, corrosion, scale forming and harmful
minerals which is clear, palatable.
(a) Physical and Chemical quality of drinking water
2. Bacteriological Characteristics
3. Explain about the various methods employed for population forecasting. What are the factors influencing the
selection of a method of population forecasting?

1. Arithmetical Increase method

2. Geometrical Increase Method
3. Incremental Increase Method
4. Decreasing Rate of Growth Method
5. Graphical Extension Method
6. Graphical Comparison Method
7. Logistic Curve Method

Population depends upon living conditions, environment, and industrial

Potential, state of development, location w.r.t. road & rail links, climatic condition, etc.
 Arithmetic Increase Method

1) Rate of change of population with time is constant.

2) Applicable to old and large cities

3) Also applicable to cities with no industrial growth and reached a saturation or max. development

4) Yields lower results for rapidly growing cities

Pn = (Po + n.x)

Where, Po = latest known population

Pn = Prospective population after ‘n’ decades x = avg. increase in

population per decade

 Geometrical Increase Method

1) % increase in population from decade to decade is constant.

2) Avg. % of growth of last few decades is determined and from this forecasting is done.

Pn = Po (1 + ( r / 100))n

Where, Po = latest known population

Pn = Prospective population after ‘n’ decades

r = Geometric mean % increase in population

 Incremental Increase Method

1) Best method for any city whether old or new.

2) Combination of first two methods.

3) First the avg. of increase in population is calculated according to arithmetical

Increase method

4) Then the avg. of the net increment increase is added to this.

Pn = Po + n. x + ( ( (n (n + 1) ) / 2 ) y ) Where,
Po = latest known population
Pn = Prospective population after ‘n’ decades y = avg. of
incremental increase in population
 Simple Graphical Method
1) Graphical extension method.

2) Graph plotted for a city between time & population.

3) Then graph is smoothly extended to the desired time.

4) Very approximate result & Unsafe to use alone

 Comparative Graphical Method

1) Graphical comparison method.

2) City under consideration may be developed same as the selected similar cities developed in the past.

3) Based on logical background.

4) Precise & reliable methods.

32
 Logistic Curve Method
1. Decreasing rate of growth method.

2. Birth, death, migration etc. don’t produce extraordinary changes.

3. Population-time curve under such condition would be an ideal one known as a logistic curve (S-shape) as
shown.

4. Quite rational method for the cities whose rate of increase goes on reduce, as they reach saturation..

33
4. What are the physical and chemical characteristics of water? Explain their
measurements and state the drinking water quality standards for them.

Characteristics of Water

For the purpose of classification, the impurities present in water

may be divided into the following three categories.

Physical Characteristics

The following are the physical characteristics

1. Turbidity
2. Colour and temperature
3. Taste and odour

Turbidity

Turbidity is caused due to presence of suspended and colloidal matter

in the water. The character and amount of turbidity depends upon the type of
soil over which the water has moved ground waters are less turbed than the
surface water.

Turbidity is a measure of resistance of water to the passage of light

through it. Turbidity is expressed as NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units)
or PPM (parts per million) or Milligrams per litre (mg/l). Turbidity is
measured by

1) Turbidity rod or Tape 2) Jacksons Turbidimeter 3) Bali’s Turbidimeter

The Sample to be tested is poured into a test tube and placed in the
meter and units of turbidity is read directly on the scale by a needle or by
digital display.

Drinking water should not have turbidity more than 10 N.T.U. This
test is useful in determining the detension time in settling for raw water and
to dosage of coagulants required to remove turbidity.
Colour and Temperature

Colour in water is usually due to organic matter in colloidal condition but some times it is
also due to mineral and dissolved organic impurities. The colour produced by one
milligram of platinum in a litre of water has been fixed as the unit of colour. The
permissible colour for domestic water is 20ppm on platinum cobalt scale. The colour in
water is not harmful but objectionable.

Temperature of water is measured by means of ordinary thermometers. The temperature of

surface water is generally at atmospheric temperature, while that of ground water may be
more or less than atmospheric temperature. The most desirable temperature for public
supply between 4.4°C to 10°C. The temperature above 35 C are unfit for public supply,
because it is not palatable.

Taste And Odour

Taste and odour in water may be due to presence of dead or live micro-organisms,
dissolved gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane, carbon dioxide or oxygen combined
with organic matter, mineral substances such as sodium chloride, iron compounds and
carbonates and sulphates of other substances. The tests of these are done by sense of smell
and taste because these are present in such small proportions that it is difficult to detect
them by chemical analysis. The water having bad smell and odour is objectionable and
should not be supplied to the public.

The intensities of the odours are measured in terms of threshold number. This
number is numerically equal to the amount of sample of water in C.C’s required to be
added to one litre of fresh odourless water.

Chemical Characteristics

In the chemical analysis of water, these tests are done that will reveal the
sanitary quality of the water. Chemical tests involve the determination of total solids,
PH value, Hardness of water, Chloride content etc.

Total Solids And Suspended Solids

Total solids includes the solids in suspension colloidal and in dissolved form.
The quantity of suspended solids is determined by filtering the sample of water
through fine filter, drying and weighing. The quantity of dissolved and colloidal solids
is determined by evaporating the filtered water obtained from the suspended solid test
and weighing the residue. The total solids in a water sample can be directly
determined by evaporating the filtered water obtained from the suspended solid test
and weighing the residue. The total solids in a water sample can be directly
determined by evaporating the water and weighing the residue of the residue of total
solids is fused in a muffle furnace the organic solids will decompose whereas only
inorganic solids will remain. By weighing we can determine the inorganic solids and
deducting it from the total solids, we can calculate organic solids.

Ph Value of Water

PH value denotes the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water and it is a

measure of acidity or alkanity of a substance.

PH = - log 10[H+] or 1 / log 10[H+]

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14
Acidity Neutral Alkalinity

Depending upon the nature of dissolved salts and minerals, the PH value ranges
from 0 to 14. For pure water, PH value is 7 and 0 to 7 acidic and 7 to 14 alkaline
range. For public water supply PH value may be 6.5 to 8.5. The lower value may
cause tubercolation and corrosion, where as high value may produce incrustation,
sediment deposits and other bad effects.

PH value of water is generally determined by PH papers or by using PH meter.

PH can read directly on scale or by digital display using PH meter.

Hardness of Water

It is a property of water, which prevents the lathering of the soap. Hardness is of two
types.

Temporary hardness: It is caused due to the presence of carbonates and sulphates of

calcium and magnesium. It is removed by boiling.
Permanent hardness: It is caused due to the presence of chlorides and nitrates of
calcium and magnesium. It is removed by zeolite method.

Hardness is usually expressed in gm/litre or p.p.m. of calcium carbonate in water.

Hardness of water is determined by EDTA method. For potable water hardness ranges
from 5 to 8 degrees.
5. The population of town for the last four census years was recorded as below.
Determine the population in 2011 by using Arithmetic Increase Method,
Geometric Increase Method.

Arithmetic Increase Method

Census Population Increase in Population

1971 11092 --

1981 13751 2659

1991 15206 1455

2001 19723 4517

Sol

Avg. increase in population per decade (x) = 8631/3 = 2877

Pn = (Po + n.x)

Pn = (19723 + 1x2877) = 22600

Geometric Increase Method:

Census Population Increase in Population % increase in population

1971 11092 -- --

1981 13751 2659 23.97

1991 15206 1455 10.58

2001 19723 4517 29.70

Sol.: Avg. % increase in population per decade (r) = 64.25/3 = 21.42%

Geometric Mean % in population in decade (r) = (23.97 * 10.58 * 29.70 )1/3 =19.6%

Pn = Po (1 + ( r / 100))n

Pn = 19723 (1 + (19.6 / 100))1

Pn = 23589

6. In two periods of each of 20 years, a city has grown from 30,000 to

1,70,000 and then to 3,00,000. Determine 1. the saturation
population 2. the equation of logistic curve 3. the expected
population after next 20 years.
Given:
1. P0 = 30,000 ; t = 0
2. P1 = 1,70,000 ; t = t1 = 20 years
3. P2 = 3,00,000 ; t = t2 = 2 t1 = 40 years
Asked:
1. The saturation population
2. The equation of logistic curve
3. The expected population after next 20 years.

We
know
that
2 1 02
2
2PPP P P P
P  0 1


s 2
P P
02 P
1


P
2
X30
,
000
X1
,
70
,
000
X3
,
00
,
000
1
, 
700
, 
000
X 
30
,
003
,
00
,
0 2


s 2
30
,
000
X3
,
00
,
000
(
1
,
70
,
000
)

P
s3
,
26,
000
The
saturation
populatio
is
3
,
26,
000
Substituti
ng
the
value
of
m
,
n&P
in
s the
log
istic
equat
3,
26
,000

P

19
.
87 

1
log
e 0
. 
119
t

t60
When years
what
is
P
3,26,000
P
e  

 
1
1 9.87log 0.119
X60

3 , 26 , 000

1  9 . 87 x
where x  log e
1
  7 . 14 
log e
1
  7 . 14   x
  7 . 14
x
log e

  7 . 14
x
2 . 3 log 10

  3 .1
x
log 10

solving x  0 . 000795
3 , 26 , 000
then P 
1  9 . 87 X 0 . 000795
 3 , 23 , 000