PRIVATE WATER SYSTEMS EDUCATION SYSTEM

Determining Pipe Size for One Location

Determining Pipe Size for Two or More Locations

The situation may vary depending on if all uses are on one continuous line or if there are many branch lines. The following procedure will deal with these situations:
  1. Indicate the water demand allowance for each use at each location on your piping layout chart;
  2. Select the water use location farthest from the pump to start;
  3. Compare the demand allowance at the most distant location with the demand allowance at any other location(s) served by the same line or branch line; For example, in the sketch, the cattle barn is also on branch line "C" that serves the poultry house. Note that the demand for each building is similar, and the buildings are located close to each other. With these conditions, use the full length of line "C" and figure the pipe size the same as if both buildings were on the end of the same line. If the demand allowance at the cattle barn had been several times greater than the demand allowance at the poultry house, pipe line length would then be figured from the cattle barn and only the poultry house demand allowance considered. This saves money by not requiring the extra large pipe be extended to the poultry house.
  4. Take out any competing demands.
  5. Determine the water demand on that portion of the line.
    Example:
    Poultry house: Hose cleaning 10.0 gpm
    5 waterers 0.6
    Cattle barn: Hose cleaning (noncompeting)
    4 waterers 3.0
    -----------------------------
    Total
     
    13.6 gpm
  6. Determine the pipe line length necessary to serve these locations.
  7. Determine the pipe size needed. To view charts, select either Steel, Copper, or Plastic.
  8. Determine the pipe size needed for other branch lines using the same procedure.
  9. Determine pipe size needed for main feeder line. The non-competing demands at all locations enter strongly into sizing this pipe. For a one-man operation, only one hose cleaning operation is included. For a two-man operation, two hose cleaning demands need to be included.
    Example: Water demand allowance for a main line
    to serve various branchlines and milking parlor
    - assuming a one-man operation.
    1 man, 1 hose-cleaning demand allowance 10.0 gpm
    Other demands:
    Milking Parlor:
    Utensil washing
    Toilet
    Lavatory
    4.0
    0.75
    0.5
    Poultry waterers 0.6
    Cattle barn waterers 3.0
    Hog waterers 1.0
    Hydrant for garden watering 5.0
    Swimming pool:
    infrequent demand
    (non competing)
    Total demand allowance 24.85
    Distance, 156 feet.
    Pipe size, 1 1/2 inch.

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