CHAPTER FIVE

INTAKES

KATHFORD COLLEG OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

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 Definition of Intakes
 An Intake is a device or structure placed in a water source to permit the withdrawal of
water from the sources and discharge it into an intake conduit through which it flows to
the treatment plant.
 Components of intake
1. Intake conduit with a screen at its inlet end
2. Valve control the flow of water
3. Structure permitting the withdrawal of water form the sources and housing
 COMPONENTS OF INTAKE
A INTAKE
 It is a conduit which conveys water to the treatment plant or reservoir or intake well
i. A fine screen at its inlet end for screening of small floating or suspended matters
ii. A valve to control the flow of water
 COMPONENTS OF INTAKE
A INTAKE
Components of intake
i. To permit the withdrawal of water from the source and for housing and supporting the
intake conduit, valve operation device.
ii. The structure protects the conduit from being damaged or clogged by ice, trash and
debris etc.
iii. An intake structure may be of a simple block supporting at the end of the conduit pipe
to huge concrete towers which houses intake gates (to control flow), screens (for
screening), Pump, living quarter
iv. The intake structure should be impermeable and designed to resist water pressure,
forces due to wave, wind and floating, debris.
 Site Selection of an Intake
 The best quality of water should be available at the site so that it can be easily and
economically purified in less time by giving less load on the treatment plants.
 At the site, there should not be heavy current of water which might endanger the safety
of the intake works
 The site should be such that intake can draw sufficient quantity of water even in the
worst condition, when the discharge of the source is minimum.
 The site of intake should be easily approachable without any obstruction.
 The site should be such that intake work can draw more quantity of water if required in
the future i.e., there should be sufficient scope for future.
 The site should not be in navigation channels, because such water is polluted and
contains toilet and other discharges from the ships.
 Site Selection of an Intake
 As far as possible the selection of the site should be near the treatment works, it will
reduce the conveyance cost from the source to the water-works
 As far as possible the intake should not be located in the vicinity of the point of sewage
disposal. If at all it becomes necessary due to unavoidable reasons to locate intakes in
the proximity of the sewage disposal, a weir should be constructed upstream of the
disposal point, and the intake should be in the upstream side of the weir.
 In case of rivers which meander or change their water course, or the discharge reduces
considerably, a diversion weir of a barrage should be constructed, which will ensure
enough water around the intake.
 Classification of Intake

Submerged intake: when an intake is constructed entirely under the water this is called
submerged intake.
Exposed intake :When an intake is contracted near or away from bank of water bodies this
is called exposed intake.
Wet intake: it is an intake tower in which water level is practically remains as same as the
level of the source of supply and water is conveyed indirectly passed into the convey pipes.
The operation valves only in the inner shell. It are also called jack well.
Dry intake: it is an intake tower in which no water remains in water tower and water
through entry port is directly passed into the convey pipes, but operation of valves are
used.
River Intake
 Dry Intake
 It gates are closed there is no water inside the intake tower. Constructed at river and
water through entry is directly passed into the convey pipes then the intake.
 These intakes consist of circular or rectangular masonry or RCC intake tower from
where water can be withdrawal even in the dry period.
 Several inlets called penstocks for drawing water are provided at the different level to
permit the withdrawal of water when the water level drops.
 All inlets' ends are provided with as screen to prevent the entry of floating matters.
River Intake- Wet Intake

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 Wet Intake
 These intakes are normally constructed inside the river.
 In this case there is water inside the intake tower if the inlets valves of the tower are
closed. Since these types of intakes remain wet inspection cannot be done easily
 It consist of inner and outer concrete shell . The wall of the outer shell consists of inlets
at different level for withdrawal of water even in the dry period.
 Inner shell also consists of opening provided with gates and a water withdrawal conduit
to convey water under the gravity to the treatment plant directly or sump well at the bank
from where water can be pumped to treatment plant.
 Outer shell is always filled with water hence it is named as wet intake.
 Reservoir Intakes
 Reservoir intake is provided in the stream where there is large fluctuation in discharge during monsoon and
dry season. In this case reservoirs are constructed by constructing weir or dam across the river.
 When the flow of river is not guaranteed throughout the year a dam is constructed across it to store the water
in the reservoir.
 These types of intakes are mostly used to draw water from earthen dam reservoir or gravity reservoirs. It consists of an
intake tower and constructed at the upstream toe of the dam at such place from where intake can draw sufficient quantity
of water even in driest period.
 Water enters in intake through penstocks or entry ports located at different levels to permit withdrawal of water even when
water level in reservoir drops. Numbers of penstocks are operated in tower to admit water at different levels. The penstocks
are fitted with screens to check floating solids.
 The penstocks are provided with valves to control the entry of water through them. The valves are controlled from control
room. All penstock pipes are connected to one vertical pipe inside the intake well or may be direct to sump well as in river
intake.
 Types: Earth Dams and gravity Dams
Reservoir Intakes
 Lake Intake
 Lake Intakes are like reservoir intakes. If, however, the depth of the water near the bank is
shallow, and greater depth is available only at its center, a submerged intake is provided.
Submerged intakes are constructed as cribs or bell mouths.
 The cribs are made of heavy timber framework or concrete which is partly or wholly filled
with rip rap to protect the intake conduit against damage. The top of the crib is covered with
cast iron or mesh grating.
 The water entering the intake conduit flows under gravity or by pumping to the bank of the
lake and collected in a sump well from which it is transmitted to treatment plant.
 If the lake shore is inhabited, the intake should be constructed so that the danger of pollution
is minimized. The intake opening should be 2.5m or more above the bottom so that the
entry of silt with water is minimized. Entering velocity must be low to prevent entering of
floating matter, sediment, fish or ice. Entering velocity of 0.15 m/s is usually used

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Lake Intake

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Lake Intake

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 Canal Intake
 Sometimes the source of water supply to a small town may be an irrigation canal
passing near the town. It essentially consists of concrete or masonry intake chamber
of rectangular shape, admitting water through a coarse screen. The bottom of screen
is kept 0.15m above the canal bed material into the chamber.
 The top of the screen is kept either below or at minimum water level in the bell
mouth entry of the outlet pipe. The bell mouth entry is located below the expected
low water level in the canal. This pipe or conduit carries water to the treatment
plant.

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Canal Intake

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 Spring Intake
 Spring intake: It is not possible to preset a standard design for spring intake system.
However, a spring intake tank includes the following features:
 Screened inflow piping: Suspended particles in the flow can add to the wear and tear on
the pipe. Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate such particles as soon as possible.
Screening is normally required to remove these particles. Locally available wire mesh can
be used for screening.
 Sedimentation chamber: sedimentation Chamber is nothing more than a small chamber
in the intake structures; it removes suspended particles entered through screens.

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 Spring Intake
 Service pipes: A proper intake should have inlet pipe, outlet pipe, overflow pipe and
washout. Inlet pipe, outlet pipe and washout are regulated by valves. An outlet pipe is
installed at about 10cm above washout pipe. Screening is also done in this pipe. An
overflow pipe is to remove excess water in chamber. Washout pipe to clean chamber if
required.
 Air vents: Air vents are located just down stream from a gate valve of outlet pipe. These
serve to allow air to escape from the pipeline without bubbling out through the intake and
interfering with the flow
 Roofing: intake should be provided with RCC or GCI roofing.
 Protective measures: It is important that once source water has been collected, it must be
protected from further contamination. Thus, measures must be taken to seal off the flow as
much of the external environment as possible. Fencing, reforestation, planting of grass,
constructing drainage ditch around the source are some of the very important protective
measures.
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 Spring Intake
Why spring intakes are generally built-in hilly areas of Nepal?
 Availability of spring source in hilly areas at higher elevation.
 Water quality is good, so no complicated treatment needed.
 Low cost of construction.
 Easier technology.
 In general, gravity system. So, no need of pumping and affordable by poor community.

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 Spring Intake
Protection measures in intake structure:
Sufficient factor of safety is taken on account of current, impact of floating bodies and
submerged material.
Sufficient self weight to resist up-thrust of water.
Navigation channels and intakes should be reported by piles.
Foundation of intake structure should be deep enough.
Screen should provide to check the suspended matters and organism.
In take should be sufficiently big to draw more water.
Intake should collect good quality of water throughout the year.
Provision of barbed fence.

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Spring Intake

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Spring Intake

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Spring Intake

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END OF CHAPTER FIVE

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