Water System Design
Introduction:
Water gets delivered to the building generally via a private well, or from city/town piping/supply.
Water System Design
Once the water is delivered to the structure, there are various aspects to consider for the design of the water system. The system must be designed in order to deliver the least amount of pressure required at the most remote fixture.
This means when all the pressure deductions are taken into account, this must not exceed the water main pressure.
The minimum flow rates for fixtures can be found by the manufacturers.
Pressure loss in pipes is due to the flow rate and size of the pipe, which results in friction loss in the pipe.
The smaller the pipe the greater the friction loss.
The greater flow rate, the greater the friction loss.
Design Considerations
Due to the fact that sewage and waste water has slope drainage requirements, as well as the high cost of piping; plumbing fixtures should be located as close as possible to the ‘main’ plumbing lines of the building. In general, it typically is best to also locate the main lines as centrally as possible, although that typically conflicts with layouts, especially in basement locations. Many times it makes sense to offset plumbing, while still keeping it vertically stacked.
Extending Water to Site
Property owners are generally required to extend the water line to the site at their own cost. If the water main is far away from the property, the cost can be significant.