Operation and Maintenance: General Considerations

Chapter 11
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
General Considerations
The nature and scope of the operation and maintenance required will
vary with the design and elements of water-supply systems. Depending upon
the particular situation, the field work may include :
(1) well, spring, or drainage basin inspection and maintenance;
(2) dam and reservoir maintenance;
(3) pump and engine operation and maintenance;
(4) treatment operation;
(5) distribution system maintenance;
(6) service connexions to system;
(7) meter repairs and maintenance;
(8) operation in emergencies;
(9) detection and elimination of cross-connexions.
Some information has already been given under the relevant sections
regarding the principal features of operation and maintenance of various
elements of water systems. This will not be repeated here; but some addi-
tional points of interest to waterworks field personnel are described in
Annex 9 (see page 313).
There are two principal factors which contribute to most failures in
water systems : (a) equipment and materials used under conditions for
which they were not designed; and (b) operators who, because of either
ignorance or disinterest, do not recognize the signs which precede or por-
tend breakdowns and failures. By careful review of plans, design, and spe-
cifications, the water-supply-control administration can succeed in prevent-
ing or eliminating most difficultiesof a mechanical character. The reduction
of troubles caused by the human element is perhaps harder to achieve;
but much can be done, as previously indicated, through training of field
personnel, assistance from outside qualified staff (a form of in-service train-
ing) and close supervision.
Equipment
For small water systems, the following suggestions may be made :

(I) Manufacturers' recommendations as to operation and maintenance
procedures should be scrupulously observed. They should be drafted into
244 WATER SUPPLY FOR RURAL AREAS
a form which can be easily understood by the operators. This is especially

important with regard to pumping machinery.
(2) Maintenance should be organized according to rigid schedules.
This applies to operations such as greasing, oiling, inspections, adjustments,
and minor repairs.
(3) A system of supervision should be established to ensure that pro-
cedures and schedules are followed.
(4) Lubrication recommendations by the manufacturer of a particular
piece of equipment must be followed.
(5) Ample space must be provided for equipment operators or mainten-
ance men to work and to keep tools, spare parts, oil, grease and other sup-
plies.
(6) Provision must be made for the establishment of suitably equipped
workshops.
The following major field equipment will be found useful in most instan-
ces (depending upon the scope of the water system) :
(1) dump truck(s), for the transportation of pipes smaller than 25 cm
(10 in.) in size;
(2) an air compressor, pavement breakers. and air hammers;
(3) ditch pumps (at least two of them) equipped with 3.6-m (12-ft)
hoses, for keeping trenches dry during work;
(4) electric generators, with two floodlights and extension cords, for
emergency work at night;
(5) a small crane, handling up to about 2.5 metric tons (3 tons), equipped
with pneumatic tires and a ball-bearing swivel safety hook and capable
of 180" turning capacity. A crane is not needed for handling pipes of less
than 15 cm (6 in.) in diameter, but is useful for handling, turning, and
lowering pipes of larger diameter. Handling large pipes with hand labour
and ropes usually results in an undue amount of breakage of pipe joints.
Distribution System
First and foremost, the operation and maintenance of a distribution

system require the establishment of system maps and records. The system
map should be drawn on large scale, preferably not less than 1 : 10 000,
and should show all streets and their names, mains and their sizes and
locations, valves and hydrants, reservoirs and elevated tanks, supply sources,
and any other useful information. Besides the making of at least one full
map, the same map may be divided into sections and bound for easy handl-
ing in the field.
In addition to the system map, valve records are necessary (except in
very small water-supplies) to show their exact location, their numbering,
and any particular reference regarding their operation. These records
MANAGEMENT OF WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEMS 245
can take the form of separate large-scale drawings, each for one valve,
entered in a loose-leaf binder for handy reference. A system should be
devised to ensure that these records and the maps are kept up to date. This
is facilitated if pertinent information is reported and recorded after
each rep@ or maintenance job is performed. These records are espe-
cially useful when valve boxes and cones are hidden or " lost ", having been
covered in the course of street repairs or construction.
The following specific suggestions may apply :
(1) Valves: Their function and installation are described in a pre-
vious section (see page 205). Valves and hydrants (if any) should be in-
spected every two months. This should be a primary duty of field operators
and should be carried out on a regular inspection schedule using a simple
check list to ensure that no valve is missed. The effort spent will repay
itself many times in cases of emergency and fire when valves must
be located and operated quickly. Packing and leakage can also be checked
at inspection time.
(2) Piping : The maintenance of distribution pipes consists in checking
for leaks, corrosion, and scale. Each time a line is opened, the interior of
the piping can be observed. The life of more than one system has been
greatly extended by workmen who have reported pipe damage when making
a house connexion.
(3) Tanks : Concrete tanks require very little attention, while steel tanks
must be painted often to prevent damage from corrosion. Instructions of
manufacturers regarding type of paints and methods for painting must be
closely followed.
(4) Meters : Meters usually require much attention. An organized
maintenance system must be set up, or else the whole metering process
will soon fail. A small repair shop is required for the cleaning and testing
of meters and for the replacement of worn-out parts. It can be a room
about 4 x 5 m (13 x 17 ft), equipped with benches, small tools, water con-
nexions, gauges, etc. It need not be complex and may be run by from one
to four trained persons. A well-equipped repair shop manned by four
experienced workmen can handle up to 5000 ordinary service meters a year.
Cross-Cornexions
In small community water-systems, many opportunities exist for direct
cross-connexions between public water-supplies and private cisterns and
wells. Also, there is the always-present danger of back-siphonage of con-
taminated water from lavatory washbasins, water-closets, etc., into public
distribution pipes when the domestic plumbing systems are not properly
built. Furthermore, it does happen sometimes that the positive pressure
existing in a main pipe drops suddenly to nil, or even becomes negative,
246 WATER SUPPLY FOR RURAL AREAS
because of an accident, fire demand, leaking valves, or some human error

of operation. Sanitary engineers are very familiar with the different types of
cross-connexion and with the public health hazards associated with them.
Many water-borne epidemics caused by accidental cross-connexions are
reported in the literature. The field personnel of small water-systems should
be alert to the danger and, although they are usually not respohsible for
inspection of house plumbing, the field service should be prepared to advise
and assist customers in eliminating such plumbing defects.
Cross-connexions should be expressly forbidden. However, special
requests from industries or neighbouring public water systems, for example,
for connexions of their water pipes with the town's distribution system
should be closely examined by competent public health or water engineers
on behalf of, or attached to, the controlling health administration. Wherever
possibilities exist for back-siphonage, a free-fall discharge of the town's
water should be observed. It is generally agreed that a free fall equal to
at least two pipe diameters above the highest flood level of the receiving
unit is safe. In the case of lavatory washbasins, the maximum flood level
would be the top of the basin, even though an overflow pipe is provided.
Vacuum breakers are also used to prevent back-siphonage. They are
usually installed at least 10-15 cm (4-6 in.) above the maximum flood level
of the receiving unit, according to manufacturers' instructions. Special
devices, such as the back-flow preventer, must be approved by the public
health administration before they can be installed in a system linking
private and public water-supplies.
Operation in Emergencies
Every public water-system, whether large or small, should be as prepared

as possible for emergency operating procedures which may be necessitated
by such catastrophes as earthquake, flood, war damage, or evacuation of
populations due te war or sudden cataclysms. It must be remembered
that, in such circumstances, water is probably the most urgent need of indi-
viduals, who will use any available source, polluted or not, with the conse-
quent hazards of epidemics, if provision is not made quickly for a supply
of safe water. In fact, the amount of water available may govern the
number of evacuees who may be received and handled in a particular
village or town. For this reason, it is recommended that, soon after the
start of operation of a new water-system, or even before, a realisticinventory
be made covering all available sources of water supplies, public or private,
together with their capacities, location, accessibility and potability. This
inventory should also include personnel resources and available, emergency-
type, water-supply equipment, hand and motor pumps, water-tank trucks,
pipe accessories (especially coupling ar,d jointing materials), mobile or
MANAGEMENT OF WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEMS 247
portable filter units, tools, spare parts, and chemicals (especially those for
water disinfection purposes).
At times of emergencies, a minimum of 1 litre (1 qt) of water should be
provided daily for drinking only and another 3 litres (3 qt) for other pur-
poses, in such places as temporary shelters. In camps with tents, a rnini-
mum of 20 litres (5 US gal.) should be provided, and this amount should be
doubled for the supply of temporary hospitals and first-aid stations. It
goes without saying that every step should be taken to conserve water, and
that every possible sanitary safeguard should be employed to protect
existing supplies-especially surface supplies such as lakes, ponds, open
reservoirs, and springs-from contamination. While ground-water supplies
from properly constructed wells, infiltration galleries, and spring structures
may sometimes be considered safe, all surface water should be considered of
doubtful quality and should be disinfected by boiling, chlorination, or di-
sinfection by iodine compounds. The notes previously given under " House-
hold purification of water" (see page 185) also apply here, except that
heavier chlorination is recommended. The free chlorine residual in reason-
ably clear water at times of emergencies should be not less than 5 p.p.m.
after 30 minutes of contact 38 when the water has not had the benefit of
prior filtration. The raw water should be taken from an approved source;
and, if it has strong taste, odour, or colour, it should be avoided as far
as possible.

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Chapter 11

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

For small water systems, the following suggestions may be made :

a form which can be easily understood by the operators. This is especially

First and foremost, the operation and maintenance of a distribution

because of an accident, fire demand, leaking valves, or some human error

Every public water-system, whether large or small, should be as prepared

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