Water supply is the provision of water to an end-user by a body (public or private system) or an individual via a system of pumps and pipes. Water supply simply refers to the provision of water to meet a specific demand.
Water is supplied from a source via an intake medium, transported to a treatment plant via an abstraction medium, and delivered to end users via a pipe network.
Rainwater – Rainwater harvesting is an excellent source of water. Due to its reaction with gases in the atmosphere, it may be acidic in nature. Roof gutters are commonly used to collect rainwater. The medium used to collect rainwater has an effect on its quality.
Surface water – Surface water is defined as any water that is found on the earth’s surface. Surface water is commonly found in seas, oceans, and springs. Because surface water is prone to pollution due to its location on the earth’s surface, it necessitates stringent treatment procedures.
Groundwater – Groundwater is any water obtained beneath the earth’s surface. Groundwater may be considered pure water in and of itself, but it can be easily contaminated by minerals or pollutants in the surrounding soil.
Reclaimed water – Reclaimed water is wastewater that has been treated. Wastewater treatment is performed based on the intended use of the reclaimed water. The technique used to treat wastewater determines the quality of reclaimed water.
Surface water. Source: Photo by Ian Turnell on Pexels.comRainwater harvesting. Source: Housemove Pro
Types of intake
The different types include
Well
Borehole
Roof gutters
Spring
River intake
Water is scarce in nature and thus cannot be abundantly generated. The demand for water rises in tandem with the increase in population. To meet the increased demand for water, more water sources must be sought. Aside from looking for new water sources, reducing water demand and doing the following can help to ensure a steady supply of water.
Turn off the tap when not in use like while brushing or gathering food ingredients to be cleaned.
Use a bowl or basin to clean your fruits or ingredients instead of running water.
Fill your kettle with the amount of water needed alone.
Reducing your shower time.
Fixing a leaking tap as soon as it is noticed.
Replacing a burst pipe as soon as possible.
Recycling wastewater for non-portable purposes.
Rather than running the sink while shaving, use a container or half-filled sink.
Use a washing machine only when it is filled.
Re-use water as much as possible.
Conclusion
The provision of water to meet a need is known as water supply. A body (public or private) or an individual supplies water to an end-user via a network of pipes.
Water is supplied from a source via an intake medium, transported to a treatment plant via an abstraction medium, and delivered to end users via a pipe network.
The primary water sources are rainwater, surface water, groundwater, and reclaimed water. Water is collected from the source (for example, rainwater) using various intake mediums (for example, rain gutters) and transported to a treatment plant via an abstraction medium (the collection bowl or tank).
Using multiple water sources allows for a continuous water supply. The rise in population is the primary cause of the rise in water demand. Using water-saving techniques and having more than one source of water ensures a steady supply of water.
Hydraulic structures are structures that are submerged in water completely or partially. They could be used to transport water, store water, or restrict the flow of water. In other words, hydraulic structures influence the natural flow of water.
A hydraulic flow meter can be used to measure the flow of water in hydraulic structures. It measures the rate at which water flows through hydraulic structures. To determine the flow rate, the hydraulic flow gauge should be placed at any point along the hydraulic grade.
One of the questions posed during the planning stage of any construction project is, “Where is the water path?” Knowing the water path, the purpose of the hydraulic structure, the area’s topography, and the volume of water for the proposed construction area provide a basic understanding of the type of proposed hydraulic structure to be used.
Understanding the topography of the construction area and acting according to it or using it to one’s advantage eases the stress of construction even when there is a well-written out plan for the type of hydraulic structure to be erected. For example, if a storage dam is to be built along a river with a steep slope, building a coffer dam first eases construction because there will be little to no water in the construction area. Depending on how it is built, the coffer dam can easily be converted to a debris dam to trap dirt after construction.
Figure 1: A view of a dam from the spillway. Source: Flickr.
Types of hydraulic structures
Hydraulic structures include:
Dam
Culvert
Bridge
Drains
Weirs
Dams
Dams are built to regulate the flow of water. Dams could be used to alleviate flooding by retaining water and reducing the amount of water that flows downstream. The water stored in the dam’s reservoir could also be used to irrigate during times of scarcity.
Dams are classified according to their purpose, design, and structure. Dams classified according to their purpose, include:
Storage dam is the most common type of dam. It is used to collect rainwater and store it for use when there is a low amount of rainfall. The stored water can be used for irrigation or to generate electricity.
Diversion dams are also known as weirs. They divert water from its natural course into farms for irrigation.
Detention dams are primarily used for flood control. It is usually built downstream, but to ensure its effectiveness, it is sometimes built at various points along the river to properly retain the water. It retains water during flash floods and releases it at a controlled rate after the flood to protect the downstream.
Debris dams are typically built near storage dams to reduce the number of impurities in the water entering the storage dam.
Coffer dams are temporary dams built to hold water while a primary dam is being built. After the primary dam is built, it is either converted into a debris dam or demolished.
Figure 2: A debris dam trapping wooden debris. Source: Waco Tribune-Herald
Culverts and bridges
Culverts and bridges perform similar functions in that they both provide transportation over a body of water. Bridges are used not only over bodies of water but also when there is a deep valley between two mountains.
Bridges are typically built with precast members. Culverts are typically cast on-site, but they can also be precast and assembled on-site. Bridges generally require more time to plan and build and hence can’t have rushed construction work. Bridge construction is also less economical because it requires more time and technical personnel.
Because bridges and culverts are so similar, the purpose of the hydraulic structure and a variety of other factors are considered before deciding whether to build a bridge or a culvert. The properties of the construction site are usually used as a final determinant for the type of hydraulic structure.
For example, why would you build a culvert in place of a bridge, or vice versa? Can you provide an explanation for your decision? Let’s use this as an example. A stream runs through a proposed road construction site. The depth to the river bed is 7m. The stream is 8 meters wide and has vegetation planted along its path. During rainy seasons, the river has an 85% chance of overflowing its banks. A manufacturing company is to the right upstream, and a secondary school and a church are to the right and left, respectively, downstream. It’s June, and we’re planning to start building in the next two weeks. Do we build a bridge or a culvert?
If the depth to the river bed is greater than 6m, a bridge should be considered. If there is so much unsuitable material at the river’s bed, a bridge may be a better option. Consider using a culvert if there is an easy way to divert the water. If there is a lot of water, a bridge is a better option.
If you do decide on a culvert, there are guidelines for selecting a specific type of culvert. A pipe culvert, a box culvert, a pipe-arch culvert, or any other type of culvert could be used.
Figure 3: Orogun box culvert at Orogun, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Drains
Drains are hydraulic structures that remove excess water from the earth’s surface or subsurface. Surface water is collected, removed, and disposed of by road drains (or stormwater drains). Road construction is only considered fully completed when there is a road drain. Road drainage systems ensure that no or a small amount of water remains on the road. This helps to ensure the road’s stability and durability, as structures that are constantly exposed to water are more prone to deterioration.
Drains could be opened or closed. A drain should be kept closed for safety reasons. A closed drain is an example of a pipe drain. Having drains around keeps the area dry. A city should have an adequate drainage system. When it is insufficient (cannot carry the amount of water coming into it) or inadequate (in number and networking), the city is at risk of flooding.
Drains not only remove stormwater from roads, but they can also transport wastewater to treatment plants, treated water to consumers, and much more. Normally, wastewater drains are closed (with only an entry and exit)
Figure 4: A road drainage along Orogun road, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Conclusion
Hydraulic structures influence the natural flow of water. The flow of water can also be measured in hydraulic structures using a hydraulic flow meter.
Understanding the water path, the purpose of the hydraulic structure, the topography of the area, and the volume of water in the area provides a foundation for determining the type of hydraulic structure that should be used.
Dams are built to restrict the flow of water and are primarily used to address flooding and water scarcity issues. It can also be used for energy generation and recreation. Dams are classified according to their purpose, design, and structure. Dams are classified into storage, diversion, detention, debris, and coffer dams based on their purpose.
Bridges and culverts have similarities and advantages over one another. A basic understanding of the nature of the construction site aids in the selection of the ideal hydraulic structure. Choosing the appropriate hydraulic structure aids in the adequate conveyance of water while reducing the risk of flooding.
Hydraulic structures are an essential component of the environment. Hydraulic structures, whether natural or man-made, help to manage water bodies and reduce the likelihood of flooding when they are well-networked.
Water resources engineering and environmental engineering are two closely related engineering disciplines. During my final year of university, while pursuing my undergraduate degree, we were asked to select a major. Among the three options available, water resources engineering and environmental engineering were on the list and were classified as a single major. This was most likely done because the two disciplines are inextricably linked.
It is said that all aspects of engineering are interconnected. Engineers from various disciplines are often required to collaborate to accomplish a common objective. In road construction, for example, a highway engineer is expected to design the road in collaboration with a transportation engineer who provides details about the vehicular traffic the road would be expected to carry and a hydraulics engineer who determines the best type of drainage such type of road requires.
The road will be built by a contractor who is knowledgeable about highways, hydraulics, and transportation engineering. As a result, the details in the designed drawings can be properly implemented on site. A mechanical engineer and an electrical engineer work together to design and install the best type of road signs, street lights, and other fittings.
The example mentioned above simply illustrates how every aspect of engineering is interconnected. In most schools (at least in Nigeria, where I studied), everyone is expected to study every aspect of Civil Engineering and certain aspects of other engineering courses at the beginning. To better understand water resources engineering and environmental engineering, we will first look at an overview of both types of engineering before delving deeper into the various aspects of both types of engineering in subsequent posts.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering is a branch of civil engineering that focuses on protecting and preserving natural resources in the environment as well as the environment itself by reducing waste and contaminants in the environment while improving the existing condition of the environment.
Environmental engineering provides solutions to environmental problems. It also improves life on land and in water by reducing or preventing environmental issues such as flooding.
Engineering is known for solving problems by applying scientific and technological knowledge. Environmental engineering aims to provide continuous solutions to the following issues:
Air pollution
Water pollution
Soil pollution
Flood
Water scarcity
Waste disposal
Water supply
Water resources engineering
Water resources engineering is concerned with managing existing water resources and sourcing new ones. It requires a thorough understanding of how the hydrologic cycle works – the distribution and circulation of water.
A water resources engineer is someone who is tasked with providing clean water for human consumption and removing the water once it has been used (wastewater treatment).
Water resources engineering, like any other branch of engineering, has various aspects, which include:
Jay water advisory 