Water Supply for Animals

Points to keep in mind when installing water for animals:

Pressure high enough to satisfy needs.
Prevent spillage.
Joints watertight.
Removal of spillage water.
Protect all valves.

Requirements for troughs:

Not be too high.
Deep.
Wide.
Build in such a way that animals cannot get their feet into it.

Pumps

Types of Pumps

Centrifugal pumps
Rotary pumps
Submersible pumps
Jet pumps

Aspects to consider before deciding on a pump:

Required delivery.
Water quality.
Availability of driving power.
Mobility of the pump.
Simplicity of construction.
Attention required.
Cost and availability of parts.
Do-it-yourself installing.
Decide on the type of pump that best fits your needs, rotary, centrifugal, submersible, turbine, jet pump, etc.
Estimate your flow (LPM) and pressure requirements.
Research the available pump models and select a preliminary pump model that meets the requirements you established above.
Create a first draft irrigation design. The irrigation should be designed for the flow and pressure the pump will produce.
Once you have a first draft of your irrigation you may be able to fine-tune your pump selection based on that design. Would a different pump lower your irrigation costs or better fit your irrigation system design? Return to the pump selection process and re-evaluate your pump selection. Make your final pump selection.
Return once again to your irrigation design. Can it be fine-tuned to better match your final pump selection? Make any necessary adjustments.

Electrical Submersible Pump

The Construction of the Pump

Pump consists of several drivers also known as stages that are mounted on top of one another.
The larger and the greater number of stages, the more water is pumped at the same speed.
Each stage consists of a turbine and swirl.
The purpose of the turbine is to increase the water speed by utilising centrifugal force and then bring it back into the swirl.
This last action transforms the speed into pressure before being taken to the next turbine.
These stages are rigged inside a pipe that in turn is rigged to a pipe through which the water is pumped.
Below these stages a watertight motor is connected.
As soon as the power is switched on the motor turns the stages that perform the pump action.
Water is pumped through the motor to cool it.

Advantages

It is easy to install.
No maintenance needed.
Can be pulled out of a borehole quickly.
Lasts a lifetime.
Delivers as much water as any other pump.
Water at a very high pressure can be supplied.

Disadvantages

If the motor is not 100% watertight it can be damaged.
Pump can only be driven by electricity.

Jet Pump

Working of the Pump

At the bottom end of the suction pipe a foot valve is mounted, to prevent water in the pump to flow back during rest periods.
Just above the foot valve a venturie is built into the suction pipe.
Inside the venturie an injector is installed.
As soon as the pump is switched on, a part of the water with which the pump has been filled beforehand, is pumped back to the injector.
The extra amount of water that is now injected into the suction pipe creates an increased suction in the venturie.
This increased suction force, together with an increased flow rate in the suction pipe, created by the injector, results in the pump working effectively.
Care should be taken to ensure that the whole system is filled with water and free of air. All joints must be airtight.
When water needs to be pumped beyond the capabilities of the pump an Injector can be used with the pump.

Common Uses

Deep boreholes.
Open streams.

Advantages

No rods are required.
Water can be drawn from great depths using the injector.
Simple construction.
Almost no maintenance is necessary.
It is a high-pressure pump.

Rotary Pump

Working of the pump

The movement of the pulley on the pump head is transferred to the rotor or worm using a shaft.
The rotor is spiral-shaped and revolves inside the rubber stator.
The revolving motion of the spiral forces the water upwards, delivering a constant stream of water.
The water thrust upwards is replaced by water sucked through the foot valve.
The function of the pump head is to transfer power from the engine to the pump.
The function of the sieve/grid is to keep out coarse objects or stones that can damage the element.
The function of the non-return valve is to keep the water from flowing backwards into the pipe.

Common Use

Very deep boreholes.

Advantages

The supply of the rotary pump is in direct ratio to the pump speed.
Increase or decrease pump speed for more or less water.
Pressure height is not related to pump speed.
Parts that can wear are restricted to the minimum.
Flexible stainless-steel shaft eliminates several working parts.
Drive unit is mounted at ground level which makes repair easier.
Any power unit can drive the rotor.

Disadvantages

The pump has to be driven from the surface with a shaft.
Direction of revolution must always be maintained to prevent the shafts from becoming unscrewed.

Centrifugal Pump

Working of the Pump

The impeller rotates fast in the direction indicated by the arrow.
The vanes on the impeller force the water outwards through the outlet pipe.
Water moving outwards is replaced by water sucked into the pump via the foot valve and suction pipe connected to the inlet.
This action is possible because no air can be compressed inside the system.

Common Uses

Irrigation pumps in rivers.
Pumping from streams.
Pumping from dams.
Pumping from wells

Pipes

Galvanised Pipes

Uses

Hot or cold-water supply.
Erection of tank stands, straining posts or verandas.

Advantages

Longer life.
Cannot be constricted by roots.
Need no paint.
Cannot be damaged by digging.
Easily be joined.
Resist high pressures.

Disadvantages

Heavy and do not handle easily.
Need a lot of labour to install.
Large number of leaks represents potential leaks.
Difficult to weld.
Relatively expensive.

Concrete Pipes

Uses

Carry water over long distances.
Under roads for drainage.
Used as wire posts (Filled with concrete)

Advantages

Withstand high pressure.
Never rust or corrode.
Long lifespan.
Cannot be compressed by tree roots or traffic.
Need no protective covering.
Cannot be damaged by digging.

Disadvantages

Very heavy.
Difficult to work with.
Hard and brittle, and crack easily.
Only available in short lengths.
Large number of joints means potential leaks.

Plastic Pipes (PVC)

Uses

Used for installing water supplies over long distances.

Method of laying pipe underneath soil:

Burry deep enough so that implements cannot damage it.
Burry in the sand.
Joints must be watertight.

PVC Pipe Fittings

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe fittings typically are used to connect two sections or pieces of PVC pipe.
This connection creates a union of the two pieces or offers an end piece for other items to be connected.
The most commonly used sizes are about 1.3 cm to 10 cm wide.

Types of Pipe Fittings

Reducer

The reducer is larger around one end and smaller on the other to reduce water flow effectively from larger PVC pipes to a smaller size. Reducers help increase water pressure as the coupler steps down the flow.

Coupler

A coupler or union type of PVC pipe fitting is like a sleeve that slides over the end of each PVC pipe at a joint and is used to join the two pieces of pipe together.

Three-way, four-way, five-way, and six-way

Three-way, four-way, five-way, and six-way PVC pipe fittings are designed as a solid entry method with as many separate exit points as each name implies.

Elbow joints

Elbow joints are plumbing fittings that are used to change the direction of the water’s flow to either a 45° or 90° angle.

Tee joint

Tee joint is another type of plumbing fitting, used primarily to combine or divide a flow of water.

Cross joints

Cross joints are also plumbing fittings. They have three inlet valves and one outlet valve or vice versa and are commonly used for sprinkler systems.

Cap

Cap PVC pipe fittings usually are used to cap off the flow of water at one point. Caps fit over the ends of a pipe.

Plugs

Plugs fit into the end of a pipe.

Advantages

Light.
Few joints necessary.
Long lengths laid in short times.
Lay easily around sharp bends.
Easily joined to galvanised pipes.
Cuts and joins with ease.
Relatively cheap.
Very resistant to rust and corrosion.
Flexible and Durable.

Disadvantages

Destroyed by veldt fires.
Easily damaged by digging.
Blockages caused by roots entering leaks.
Plant roots growing near the pipe may flatten the pipe.
May be flattened by vehicles.
Not biodegradable.

Copper Pipes

Uses

Water supplies in and around the house.
Gas, oil or fuels are to be transported under low pressure.
Used in confined spaces.

Advantages

Does not rust.
Can withstand high temperatures.
Can expand and contract without cracking.

Disadvantages

Might not be readily available.
Where they are installed and where they are visible they must be painted.

Aluminium Pipes

Uses

Spray irrigation

Advantages

Very light.
Handle easily.
Coupling is simple.
Do not corrode or rust easily.
Can withstand high pressure.

Disadvantages

Easily damaged by vehicles.
Do not weld easily.
Relatively expensive.
Cannot cut thread.
Cannot be joined easily to other pipes.

Septic Tanks

The septic tank serves as a settling basin where solids accumulate and gradually get broken down by bacterial action.

Some of the solid waste is liquefied by this ‘natural bacterial decomposition,” however the rest of the waste accumulates in the bottom as a layer of sludge.

Additionally, a small percentage of this, waste (mostly fats and oils) floats to the top of the tank to form a layer of semi-solid scum.

How it works

The population living in metropolitan areas (who have never had the pleasure of maintaining a septic system, or even had the experience of pumping out their systems) simply flush their toilets.

Those of us living in more rural areas have been forced to learn about the maintenance and working of the sewerage treatment facility attached to our home, “the septic system.”

Usually, a septic tank is connected to a drainage field or seepage pit of some kind. If properly maintained, a well-designed system will last almost indefinitely.

However, if it is neglected for too long a time, it can back up and clog the drainage field.

This neglect can result in an expensive excavation and even a replacement of the drainpipes that could cost thousands of dollars.

Design

Although designs vary, most septic tanks consist of a watertight, below the ground, a tank that has one or two manhole covers (buried a few inches below ground) to provide access for cleaning and inspection.

Effluent from the house flows into the tank through an inlet pipe near the top on one side. It flows out through a discharge or overflow pipe on the other side.

The pipe may end in a large tee fitting or into a baffle (wall) preventing the effluent from flowing straight across from one pipe to the other.

The incoming effluent will be diverted downward with a minimum of splashing, allowing the solids to sink to the bottom.

Outgoing effluent is drawn from several feet below the top layer of the floating waste (grease, oil, scum) so that only liquid waste or solids that have been liquefied by the BACTERIAL ACTION going on at the bottom of the septic tank (which we will come back to this point later) are discharged out into the drainage field.

Components of sewage treatment systems

A typical household sewage treatment system consists of a house sewer, septic tank, distribution box and absorption field or seepage pit.

House Sewer – The pipeline connecting the house and drain and the septic tank.

Septic Tank – Untreated liquid household wastes (sewage) will quickly clog your absorption field if not properly treated. The septic tank provides this needed treatment. When sewage enters the septic tank, the heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank; the lighter solids, fats and greases partially decompose and rise to the surface and form a layer of scum. The solids that have settled to the bottom are attacked by bacteria and form sludge. Septic tanks do not remove bacteria and, therefore, what is discharged cannot be considered safe.

Distribution Box – Serves to distribute the flow from the septic tank evenly to the absorption field or seepage pits. Each trench or pit must receive an equal amount of flow. This prevents overloading of one part of the system.

Absorption Field – A system of narrow trenches partially filled with a bed of washed gravel or crushed stone into which perforated or open joint pipe is placed. The discharge from the septic tank is distributed through these pipes into trenches and surrounding soil. The subsurface absorption field must be properly sized and constructed. While seepage pits normally require less land area to install, they should be used only where absorption fields are not suitable and well-water supplies are not endangered.

Cesspools – Work in a similar manner to septic systems. Sewage water usually seeps through the open bottom and portholes on the sides of the walls. These can also clog up with overuse and the introduction of detergents and other materials which slow up the bacterial action.

Maintenance

Since solids will continue to build up at the bottom of the tank, the “septic tank must be pumped out periodically.” Remember, sludge is not biodegradable, if it’s not pumped out, sludge will accumulate until it overflows.

The frequency of pumping out will depend primarily on the amount of wastewater that goes through the system each day.

The frequency also depends on how careful you are about not throwing excess fats, rinds and other similar garbage down the drains.

The more solid waste thrown into the system, the quicker the tank will fill up.

Heavy flows of water also tend to make the tank fill up more quickly.

That is why it is best not to use a garbage disposal in the system when you have a septic tank, and why water should not be left running indiscriminately in sinks or toilets.

Treatment

The frequency of pumping out will depend primarily on the amount of wastewater that goes through the system each day.

The frequency also depends on how careful you are about not throwing excess fats, rinds and other similar garbage down the drains.

The more solid waste thrown into the system, the quicker the tank will fill up.

Heavy flows of water also tend to make the tank fill up more quickly.

That is why it is best not to use a garbage disposal in the system when you have a septic tank, and why water should not be left running indiscriminately in sinks or toilets.

If you have no bacteria in your system and you add enzymes to the system, it simply will not help and your system will still not work. Enzymes are simply a catalyst for bacteria.

Solids left in a septic tank mostly break down through the digestion of anaerobic processes.

Not all the solids will work their way out, however, and occasionally a septic tank must be drained before it reaches capacity.

The speed at which this filling occurs depends on the size of the septic tank, the amount of waste being pumped into it, the temperature the tank is kept, and whether a large amount of non-biodegradable solids have been added to the tank.

The truck that comes to remove solid waste from a septic tank is commonly referred to as a honey truck or honey wagon.

Most rural areas have only one septic truck working in their region, as the rate of removal tends to be fairly low.

In some high-density areas, several septic companies may be needed, but it tends to be the case that as populations grow to levels where multiple trucks would be required, environmental factors force the transition to a centralised waste treatment system anyway.

Different Types Drainage

Home drainage is the system by which water is drained away from the home. The most common types of home drainage systems are French drains, channel drains, downspouts, slope drains, and drainage ditch. Regardless of how the water arrived, all drainage systems are meant to divert water so there are no leaks into the house, standing water that attracts pests, or erosion around the foundation.

French Drain

French drain is basically a ditch dug around the foundation’s perimeter to let the water flow away from the structure. Many French drains also contain perforated pipes that are buried under gravel or pebbles. The water drains through the surface gravel and seeps into the pipe’s perforations before traveling out the end of the pipe into an area that can accommodate extra water.

Channel Drain

Channel drain is a long, narrow ditch used to quickly move large amounts of water. Also called trench drains, channel drains are typically constructed of concrete. In addition to draining water, channel drains can also be used to hold buried utility lines and cables. Though not often used in rural areas, channel drains are seen in larger suburban areas where homes are built relatively close together.

Downspouts

Downspouts are a traditional home drainage system and work by diverting water from a home’s foundation. As part of a gutter system, downspouts are attached at the bottom of the gutter and tilted at an angle, so the water flows away. Downspouts are usually constructed of zinc-coated plate, aluminium or vinyl and are also available in longer flexible pieces that can divert water several feet away.

Slope Drain

This type of drain employs gravity to work. When your home is on a hill or has even a slight slope, the water can be directed away from the foundation using the principle of negative slope. This type of system typically involves a flexible hose of PVC or plastic laid into a tunnel. The tunnel is dug from the home’s foundation to a more suitable spot such as a flower bed or drainage ditch where the water can be reused.

Drainage Ditch

Drainage ditch is a type of home drainage usually meant to drain excess water from lawns and yards. The ditch is dug along the street and water runs from the lawn into the ditch, then flows into the wastewater system. This prevents standing water or erosion from ruining a home’s landscaping.