Page 265 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

Chapter 5 Cold water systems

Distribution of cold water KEY POINT

There are two methods of water supply distribution used in the UK. These are: There are more than
2000 reservoirs used
1 gravity distribution for drinking water in
2 pumped distribution. the UK. These are the

Gravity distribution responsibility of the
Environment Agency.
The water from the collection of upland surface water is impounded in reservoirs
on high ground. Here, the water is filtered by slow sand filters, and chlorinated
before being fed to homes and factories by gravity. No pumping is required.

Slow sand Service Chlorinating Water
filter reservoir house main
Reservoir

p Figure 5.13 Gravity water distribution

Pumped distribution
When water is taken from a river, it is pumped direct to a settlement tank
where all of the heavier impurities sink to the bottom. It is then passed through
a slow sand filter to remove any organic matter and chlorinated to wholesome
water standard before being pumped to a water tower. From the tower, it flows
via gravity to the water main.

Service reservoir
on a water tower

Pumping and
chlorinating house

Pump house Water
main
Settlement Slow sand
tank filter

River

p Figure 5.14 Pumped water distribution
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