Water pipes

How to organize the water supply of a private house with your own hands: device rules and schemes

In order for the water supply system to be able to provide maximum comfort to residents, it is necessary to take into account many nuances, correctly calculate all operating parameters and engineering units. It is highly desirable to start development at the stage of an architectural project. Bringing ideas to life and installing the water supply of a private house with your own hands should, if not a professional, then a person who has delved into all the subtleties.

The water supply system is one of the most important elements in home improvement. The essence of its work lies in the automated supply of the required volume of water, for which the user now only needs to start the equipment, and then simply control it periodically.

An autonomous network independent of the central water supply must be correctly designed and calculated in order for the house to be fully supplied with water according to the needs of the owners. It is necessary to organize the system so that water flows freely to all water intake points.

Autonomous water supply systems consist of internal and external parts. Includes pipeline branches of the same name, laid from the source of water intake to the points of water intake, fittings, plumbing, pump, storage tank or hydraulic accumulator

For normal operation, the water supply system is equipped with devices and technical devices that provide automatic or partially automatic operation.

To automate the process, a hydraulic accumulator is used. It is used as a buffer tank for water supply and as a device to maintain a stable pressure. The membrane tank has two compartments - for air and water, separated by a rubber membrane. When the container is filled with water, the air chamber is compressed more and more, which increases the pressure.

Reacting to the increase in pressure, the electric switch turns off the pump. As soon as one of the owners opens the tap, the pressure in the system begins to drop. The relay again reacts to the pressure drop and turns on the pump unit to replenish the used water.

The use of a hydraulic accumulator in the water supply organization scheme allows not only to automate the process of water intake and ensure its supply. Significantly extends the life of pumping equipment due to the reduction of on / off cycles.

Water supply is the life support of the house. It depends on him how comfortable a person will live in his home.

To choose the right system parameters, you must:

Formulate requirements for the intensity and regularity of water supply. It is possible that in a small country house you can get by with a system with a conventional storage tank and a minimum of plumbing fixtures.
Determine possible sources, feasibility and cost of their construction, water quality.
Select equipment and calculate options for laying engineering networks.

A well-designed system requires professional installation and the use of quality components.

Selection of sources and water intake device

For the organization of the water supply system at home, groundwater is most often used, giving preference to aquifers protected by impermeable rocks. The points of their intake and the location on the suburban area do not have to be coordinated with the SES authorities if a non-artesian well is operated. Special justifications are needed to use surface sources.

Water intake structures should be built on an elevated site. Wells and wells with drinking water must be at least 50 m away from places of potential contamination (latrines, compost heaps, landfills, etc.) (+)

The choice of the type of water intake structure mainly depends on the characteristics of the geological situation of the area, the depth of the aquifers, the amount of water consumed. Most often, wells and wells are used, less often - capturing of springs, etc. The choice of certain water-lifting equipment depends on the design of the structure.

Technical category water intake facilities are located no closer than 20 meters from sewage treatment systems, compost pits, street toilets, sewer pipelines, and other potential sources of pollution. The site for their device is chosen not to be flooded, excluding flooding and possible contamination of the source with flood waters.

The water intake structure should be surrounded by a blind area about 2 m wide, and then a clay castle 50 cm wide and 100 cm deep. Its ground part should rise 80 cm and have a cover that protects against precipitation and dust.

When collecting, transporting and storing water, it is necessary to use safe materials that will not degrade its quality.

Using a well for organizing water supply

The choice in favor of a well is most often carried out if the water lies at a depth of twenty meters. Wells are of two types:

Artesian. They can be 100 meters deep or more. Occasionally they are gushing if they are arranged in a ravine. The disadvantage is the high cost of work. In addition, the water may be highly mineralized, which will adversely affect the operation of the pump and plumbing fixtures.
Wells of shallow penetration (including Abyssinian). They cost significantly less to install, but the downside is that they can silt up over time, especially if not used consistently. Lifting water requires the installation of special pumping equipment.

Wells are the most common water intake structures. Their design may differ, but the general principle of the device is preserved, they consist of the following parts:

Mouth and aerial part. According to the rules, the mouth is arranged in an underground chamber - a caisson. If the caisson is not used to prevent rainwater from seeping into the well, a sealed head is constructed.
The trunk, the walls of which are reinforced with casing pipes made of steel alloy, plastic. Occasionally, asbestos-cement pipes are used to equip artesian wells at great depths.
The water intake part, which has a sump and filter. In rocks, it is possible not to use filtration devices.

It is recommended to make a blind area around the structure. For wells that are silted up, it is desirable to equip a special place for water drainage in order to prevent soil erosion during the washout. If the place cannot be organized, it will be necessary to rent a sewage truck to remove the water from the flush.

Drilling wells requires space for access and manipulation of large equipment. Often the lack of such space makes mechanized mining of the water source very difficult.

Using wells as a source

The well is built mainly from concrete rings, masonry, sometimes their walls are made of wood. It consists of an above-ground part with a ventilation pipe, a shaft, a water intake and a water-containing part.

Water can enter the well through the bottom or walls, or both. If the flow goes through the bottom, buried in the sand, then it is supplied with a gravel bottom filter. When water enters through the wall, special "windows" of porous concrete are arranged, which are covered with gravel as an additional filter.

Building a well is no big deal. Therefore, if there is a need to save money, then you can dig it out and then maintain it yourself.

Arrangement of capturing chambers when using a spring

The device of a protective structure above the spring differs little from the design of the well. In them, water can also flow through the bottom or walls, which are equipped with filters. In rocks, filtration is not required. If there are suspended particles in the water, then the chamber is divided in half by a partition, one compartment serves for settling and cleaning from sediment, the other for water intake.

If you do not organize a drain from the spring, then, under the condition of poor water consumption, the source may stagnate and the water in it deteriorates (+)

To exit excess water at the highest debit of the source, an overflow pipe is provided in the chamber wall. At its end, a valve is installed that allows water to pass through, but prevents debris and rodents from entering the spring.

Equipment for automatic water supply

The choice of a method for arranging and installing a water supply system for a country house begins with an assessment of the type of water intake structure, its depth and other characteristics. The automated system includes:

pump or finished pumping station;
filtration system for water purification;
storage and control capacity;
external and internal pipeline;
devices for automatic control.

When installing tanks and pumps, the requirements of the equipment manufacturers must be strictly observed.

Regulating and storage tanks for water

Water storage tanks are distinguished according to the principle of operation:

Non-pressure leaky tank. It is made mainly from polymeric materials. Helps create pressure by placing it at the highest point of the system. The higher the storage tank is installed, the greater the water pressure will be in the system. Raising the container for each meter increases the pressure by 0.1 atmosphere.
Hydropneumatic tank. Inside it is divided into two compartments by a membrane. It creates pressure thanks to compressed air in one compartment, which through a rubber membrane exerts pressure on water in an adjacent compartment.

A non-pressure tank is installed in a lighted ventilated room, the temperature of which does not drop to negative values. Trays are installed under the tank to protect against small leaks. The tank is provided with a removable lid and equipped with shutoff valves.

One of the characteristics of the operation of pumping equipment is the frequency of switching on the system per unit of time. This indicator is fundamental in choosing a hydraulic accumulator. For submersible pumps, the allowable interval between switching on is longer than for surface pumps. They are supposed to turn on less often, which means that the hydraulic tank should be larger.

To work in tandem with surface pumps, membrane tanks with a capacity of 12 to 24 liters are most often bought. If there are power outages in the settlement, it is recommended to install a hydraulic accumulator of 250 liters or more so that you can pump in and store a reserve supply of water for some time.

Hydraulic accumulators are placed in chambers underground, in basements, utility rooms, in which the temperature does not drop below zero.

In a system with a non-pressure storage tank, the water supply process is automated using a float valve and an on and off sensor

Purification of tap water from impurities

The method of purification of tap water is chosen according to the results of its analysis. After analyzing them and identifying the most pressing problems, they give preference to one or another device.

For example, if rust removal is necessary, then filtration through special replaceable filter cartridges is used for this. Iron removers also remove the smell of hydrogen sulfide and manganese. With the removal of fluorine from the water, a reverse osmosis filter, which is used to prepare drinking water in the kitchen, will help to cope.

For more thorough cleaning, a special station for water treatment can be used. If it is necessary to reduce hardness, softeners are used. When using well water, it is recommended to use an ultraviolet disinfectant.

Types of pumping equipment and features of choice

For autonomous water supply, pumps of various types can be used: submersible, vortex, cantilever, cantilever monoblock, as well as complete pumping stations. When choosing water-lifting equipment, consider:

Source debit. It should exceed the water consumption in the house.
The type of water intake structure and the depth of the aquifer. For pumping out from sources up to 8 m deep, surface centrifugal pumps are used. They are placed in the basement or separate rooms of private houses, in underground chambers or mine wells. Pumping water from great depths is carried out by means of powerful submersible pumps.
Required pressure in the system. The head of the pumping unit is determined by summing up the values (in meters): the height of the rise from the (dynamic) water level in the well to the highest plumbing fixture, the head loss when reaching the highest point, the required head at this point.
Estimated water consumption. Calculated based on the number of plumbing points and the number of residents. This indicator influences the choice of equipment performance.

Models of submersible pumps are produced for installation in both deep and shallow wells and wells. They come in different capacities and diameters. Surface pumps are characterized by lower pressure, so they are used for shallow sources - wells and springs. The manufacturer often completes such devices with pressure tanks and automation, then sells them as ready-made pumping stations.

Devices for wells are produced in the form of a long, narrow cylinder, which can be freely lowered into it. Well units are larger

It is desirable that any pumping equipment be equipped with protection against operation without water - this will prevent it from overheating and breakage in the event of a decrease in the level in the source or damage to the pipeline.

Separately, it should be said about the ejector - a device that facilitates the operation of the pump when taking water from a great depth and / or increases the pressure. It is installed inside or outside the pump, allowing you to increase its power and spend less energy pumping water.

The choice of a pumping unit is mainly focused on the level of the water surface in the source and the type of water intake structure. Surface pumps are used to pump water from wells, submersible pumps are used to draw water from a well.

Devices for control and regulation

A manometer is used to control water pressure. It must be accurate, because even a slight discrepancy in indicators will lead to incorrect equipment settings. You can use devices designed for installation in a car.

The pressure switch is responsible for turning off and starting the device. In addition, it effectively protects the system from the formation of excess pressure, regulates the frequency of operation of the pump and increases its service life. When connecting the relay for the first time, most likely it will not have to be adjusted, it is already set to factory settings. But at the slightest deviation in the operation of the equipment, the relay must be checked and adjusted one of the first.

Without measuring and regulating devices, such as a pressure switch and a pressure gauge, it is impossible to control the operation of an autonomous water supply system

The sequence and scheme of installation of the water supply network

Like all work with engineering systems, the water supply of a private house must be performed in a certain sequence. Having equipped first of all a source of water, carry out installation:

external and internal pipeline;
pumping and additional equipment;
water purification filters;
distribution manifold;
water heating device.

The final step is to connect plumbing fixtures.

The procedure for installing pumping equipment

The method of installation of water supply systems with a submersible and surface pump is slightly different. Surface centrifugal pumps (pumping stations) are placed in an insulated outdoor branch or in the basement of a house, a pit, etc. The submersible pump is connected to a hose and power cable, lowered into the water and suspended on a nylon cable, usually included in the unit.

The submersible pump is installed in the following order:

Before lowering the pump, measure the hose and cable. They are interconnected with plastic clamps every 4 m and connected to the pump.
Holding the cable (you can not hold the pump on the hose or cable), lower the pump to a predetermined depth, securely fix it. The permissible distance to the bottom is indicated by the manufacturer of the model.
A head is attached over the casing pipe. The hose and electric cable are led out through the central hole, the cable is tied. In conclusion, the bolts are tightened, sealing the structure.

The next step is the laying and installation of the supply pipe.

If the well is not very deep, then the nylon cable that holds the pump is tied to a rubber band attached to the head. It will dampen pump vibrations

Outdoor piping installation

For laying an external water supply network, polyethylene pipes are most often used - PE (or HDPE), metal-plastic pipes. The latter is stronger, but bends worse. Much less commonly used steel without zinc coating or galvanized, with anti-corrosion treatment.

A high-quality HDPE pipe must be marked, it does not have foreign spots and stripes, an unpleasant chemical smell

The pipeline must be laid half a meter lower than the freezing level. With less deep laying, a heater is used. Connect pipes with collet fittings without fum-tape and other seals.

Pipe installation is carried out as follows:

they dig not a wide trench to a freezing depth and plus half a meter;
at the bottom they arrange a pillow of compacted quarry or river sand;
level the bottom with a slope of 2-3 cm per meter;
they insulate the section of the water pipe laid above the depth of seasonal freezing to the entrance to the foundation of the house;
lay the pipe and fill it with clean sand without clay inclusions.

When laying pipes, it is better to avoid connections and not use fittings, otherwise the maintainability of the entire pipeline will deteriorate. If you still need to make a branch underground, then it is better to use fittings for welding. The result is a soldered monolithic connection without thread.

It is better to insert the pipe into the foundation of the house through a pipe of a larger diameter, the so-called sleeve. This will make it easier to repair the line if necessary, and sometimes, if the pipe is not very long, it will allow you to remove it without digging a trench.

It is also allowed to arrange a summer water supply system for irrigation, provision of premises intended for summer use. Such a pipeline is sometimes laid on top of the ground.

If the summer water supply system is buried, then it is possible to drain for conservation for the cold season. To do this, a standard slope is arranged towards the source of water intake. Some types of pipes must be hidden from sunlight and exposure to freezing temperatures. Therefore, even for temporary summer operation of water pipes made of them, it is better to lay underground.

When laying HDPE pipes, the minimum permitted bending radii are taken into account. They depend on the SDR (pipe diameter to wall thickness ratio). Otherwise, at the bend point, the radius of the pipe will greatly decrease, which will increase the pressure in this area and the load on the pump (+)

Installation of the internal section of the water supply

The scheme and installation of the internal water supply network for different dwellings can vary greatly. Based on the individual layout and zoning of the house, its number of storeys and the number of plumbing fixtures, an individual scheme is drawn up for the water supply of a private house. But in general, the sequence of actions can be described as follows:

Brackets for fixing pipes are fixed according to pre-applied markings. If hidden installation is supposed, then the walls are pre-chased, and then the fasteners are already installed.
A ball valve is installed at the pipe inlet to the building.
A collector is mounted, pipes are connected to it, dividing them into several circuits.
Metal-plastic pipes are connected by press fittings, polyethylene and polypropylene - by welding.

Before closing the strobes, the system is checked for functionality. They inspect the quality of the pipe connection, evaluate the operation of the pump and control automation.

Dividing into several circuits optimizes the pressure, so when using one plumbing fixture, the pressure in other areas will not drop

Videos on the topic of water supply installation

Important nuances on the device of water supply in the house from a specialist:

Laying an external pipeline from the foundation of the house to the well:

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When designing a water supply system, you need to consider that the more complex it is, the more comfortable it is to use. But a simple system is more reliable, fails less often, and is available for self-repair. Therefore, when drawing up a diagram, it is important not to overestimate your strengths and determine the most important functions that a water supply system should perform.