Different parts, Types, Intake
Towers
INTAKE STRUCTURES
Intakes are the structures built in surface water sources (such as
rivers, lakes, reservoirs etc.) for the withdrawal of water and
discharge into conduits of the water supply schemes.
Different parts of an intake are:
(i) Entry ports or Inlets or Penstocks: Ports are provided at
different elevations to ensure water flow during all seasons. i.e. to
take care of fluctuation during summer. The lowest entry port is
placed below the lowest water level (LWL) of the river so that water
is available during dry season also.
(ii) Screens: The entry ports are protected with screens to prevent
entry of any debris or floating materials into the intakes.
(iii) Intake well: It is built of masonry or concrete which may be
rectangular or circular in shape. Water drawn from the sources
through entry ports is stored in these wells which is then discharged
through conduits for water supply.
(iv) Conduits : They are the pipelines through which water is
conveyed from the intake well to the nearby treatment plant or water
supply system.
(v) Gate valves and control room : The water flow is regulated by
gate valves provided on top at the control tower.
(vi) Foot bridge: A foot bridge is provided on top of the intake tower
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for access.
Factors governing the location of site for intakes:
The site chosen for intakes should be preferably
(i) Near the treatment plant
(To reduce the cost of piplines)
(ii) At the purer zone of the surface source
(To reduce the water treatment cost)
(iii) At the upstream side of source
(iv) Not near any waste water or sewage disposal points.
(v) Provide greater withdrawal of water including expansions in
future.
(vi) Provide water even during dry seasons
(vii) Not near any navigation channel
(viii) Should not get flooded.
TYPES OF INTAKES
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1. River Intakes
• Located on the upstream side of rivers, where pollution is minimum.
• Located inside the river or on river bank such that sufficient water
depth is available to meet the demand during dry seasons also.
• Sometimes, weirs are constructed across the rivers to increase the
water level.
Classification of river intakes
(i) Twin well type
(ii) Single well type
(i) Twin well type of River Intake Structure
This is the common type of river intake constructed on non-alluvial
rivers
The structure consists of
(i) An inlet well
(ii) An inlet pipe
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(iii) A jack well
Inlet well or intake or collector well is circular built of concrete or
masonry located on river bed such that water is available during low
flows. A foot bridge is provided for access from the river bank. River
water enters the inlet well through openings or ports provided at
various levels and protected by screens to exclude entry of floating
debris. The flow into the entry ports is regulated from the control
tower using gate valves. The intake well is connected to jack well
(sump well) constructed on the river bank, by a RCC intake pipe. The
bottom portion of intake well below the level of the intake pipe is
used for the accumulation of silt and sediment. The deposited silt is
periodically removed either manually or mechanically and it is
ensured that the silt does not enter the intake conduits. The pipe is
provided at a gentle slope and the flow through the pipe is under
gravity at atmospheric pressure. The pipe diameter is chosen based
on the discharge capacity. Water entering the jack well is lifted by
pumps and fed into the main lines of water supply system.
(ii) Single well type of a River Intake
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This type of intake is constructed on alluvial rivers where weirs or
approach channels are constructed to increase the water level.
In this intake, there is no separate inlet well or inlet pipe(as in Twin
Intake). The opening ports with bar screens are provided in the jack
well. Itself. Water entering the jack well is more clear. Sediments, if
any gets deposited in the bottom of jackwell which is periodically
cleaned manually by stopping the flow.
2. Reservoir Intake
• Located on the upstream side of earthern or masonry dams where
maximum depth of water is available.
• It is similar to a river intake, except that the entry ports of river
intakes are replaced here with intake conduits.
• The intake conduits which are installed at different levels withdraw
the water from reservoir and let it into a common conduit (inside the
intake well or tower) which conveys the water to the sluiceway tunnel
downstream.
• The flow of water into the intake conduits is regulated by valves
operated from control room.
• The access to the intake is provided through a foot bridge.
• The arrangement is similar to a dry intake tower.
• As the intake well remains dry, it facilitates easy operation and
inspection.
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Fig.1.15 Reservoir Intake
3. Lake Intake
• Similar to reservoir intakes if the water depth is reasonable
• At shallow waters, Lake intakes are provided as submerged intakes.
• Submerged intakes are constructed as cribs or bell mouths.
• The cribs are made of heavy timber framework with cast iron or
mesh grating on top. It protects the intake conduit from damage.
4. Canal Intake
• The intake well is located in the bank of canal.
• The water enters the intake well through a port protected with
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coarse screen, provided at minimum water level in the canal.
• The water from the chamber is then conveyed through a outlet
(withdrawal) conduit to the distribution system.
• The inlet end of the outlet conduit is of bell mouth shape protected
with a fine screen.
• An outlet valve is provided to control the flow which is operated
from top.
• The flow through the outlet pipe may be under gravity or by
pumping.
Fig.1.16 Canal Intake
5. Submerged Intake
• Such intakes are placed in streams or lakes where there are deep
waters and very less sediments.
• This consists of a simple concrete block or a rock filled timber crib
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supporting the starting end of the withdrawal pipe. The intake
opening is protected by screen.
The intake opening is kept about 2 m above the bottom of lakes to
avoid entry of sediments. These intakes are cheap and do not
obstruct navigation. They are widely used for small water supply
projects.
The disadvantage of these intakes is that they are not accessible for
cleaning, repairing etc.
INTAKE TOWERS
Types of Intake towers:
:
(i) Wet intake tower
(ii) Dry intake tower
(i) Wet Intake Towerse
• In wet Intake Towers, water is filled in both the intake well
(chamber) and the conduits.
• It consists of a concrete circular shell filled with water and vertical
inside shaft connected to the withdrawal pipe.
• Openings (Ports) are provided in the concrete shell as well as the
vertical shaft for the entry of water. The flow is regulated by gate
valves.
• Water from the withdrawal pipe flows to the nearby water treatment
plant either under gravity or by pumping.
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Fig. 1.19 Wet Intake Tower(Standing in river or resservoir)
(ii) Dry Intake Towers
• In dry intake towers, water is directly drawn into withdrawal
conduits through gated entry ports.
• There will be no water in the tower.
• Heavier construction is required than the wet intake towers.
• (It facilitates easy operation and maintenance.
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Types of conduits
Depending upon the flow conditions, the conduits are categorised as
(1) Gravity conduits
(2) Pressure Conduits
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(1) Gravity conduits / Open channels
• Water flows under gravity at atmospheric pressure
• The hydraulic gradient line will coincide with the water surface and
will be parallel to bed of conduits.
• Conduits are provided at gradual slope. They cannot follow the
natural surface level.
• The length of conduit is more which increases the cost of
construction.
• In order to maintain the HGL, these conduits have to be taken on
trestles constructed across Valleys/depressions. It further increases
the cost.
• The advantage is that no pumping is required.
Different forms of gravity conduits are:
(i) Canals
(ii) Flumes
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(iii) Aqueducts
Canals:
• Open channels constructed by cutting high ground and filling low
grounds.
• They are lined or unlined depending upon the slope/velocity/ water
quality / losses.
Flume:
• Open channels supported above ground over trestles.
• Used to convey water across valley or depressions or obstructions
• Made of masonry, RCC, metal, wood
• Usually regtangular or circular in cross-section
Aqueducts:
• Closed, rectangular or circular or horse shoe section
• Built of Masonry or RCC.
• Usually covered/closed.
• As they are designed to run half or 3/4th full, water does not flow
under pressure
2. Pressure Conduits
• Closed conduits in which air entry is restricted. Water flow is under
pressure above the atmospheric pressure. The bed of conduit is
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independent of Hydraulic gradient line (HGL). The pipes can follow
natural surface level (NSL) of ground
• As the length of conduit is less, the construction cost is less
compared to gravity conduits.
• As pressure conduits follow the natural surface level, deep
excavations are n required (as in the case of gravity conduits which
follow HGL) and therefore is economical. But in depressions,
pumping may be required to achieve pressu flow which increases the
cost.
• Pressure conduits may be in the form of pressure
aqueducts/pressure tunne preferably circular in shape.
• As the conduits are closed, there are less chances of water
pollution.
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