the gallery is justified by a reduction in the amount of chemicals needed to coagulate the water, the elimination of the necessity of frequently backwashing the filter, and the higher quality of water obtained.
Moisture is held beneath the surface of the earth in three zones: (1) the zone of soil moisture, where water is temporarily held in pore spaces by capillary action or other soil conditions; (2) the zone of aeration or zone of percolation beneath the soil layer, where both water and air are present in the pore spaces; and (3) the zone of saturation, where all spaces are filled with water. Ground water is the term customarily used for the underground water in the saturated zone.
One possible objection to an underground water supply is that the water may be excessively hard. This condition may occur because of the percolation of the water through mineral deposits from which water-hardening constituents are leached or extracted. On the other hand, an underground supply generally has the advantage of requiring less treatment because of the natural removal of impurities as the water passes through various underground soil formations. However, these conditions are general; some mineral deposits do not contribute to hardness, and some underground formations may not be of the type that effectively removes objectionable material.
Many times it is advantageous to use shallow ground water sources or percolated waters adjacent to a turbid surface water. Well points are issued in 2-inch diameters and 54-inch lengths. A drive cap is placed over the thread and the well point is driven into the ground with a sledge. Successive sections of pipe, each 5 feet long, are added and driven until the screen is well within the water-bearing media. Several well points may be connected in parallel to supply sufficient water to the raw water pump. In developing drive point sources, it must be remembered that the practical limit of suction lift of the pumps issued with field equipment is 22 to 25 feet at sea level. Suction-lift pumps can be used, therefore, only where the pumping level in the well will be within the limit of suction llift, or 22 to 25 feet below the position of the pump. At 5,000 feet above sea level, the practical limit of suction lift is only 20 feet. It should be noted that since a suction-lift pump must create a partial vacuum in the suction line, it is necessary that the line be absolutely airtight if the pump is to function properly.
Springs yielding 20 gallons per minute or more of water can be used as a source of field water supply if properly developed. Springs may be developed by enlarging the outlet of the spring and by damming and conducting water to storage. To reduce possible pollution, springs should be cleared of all debris, undergrowth, top soil, loose rocks, and sand.
Water that flows from rocks under the force of gravity and collects in depressions can be collected in boxes or basins of wood, tile, or concrete. The collecting box should be large enough to impound most of the flow. It should be placed below the ground level so only the top is slightly above the surface. The box should be covered tightly to prevent contamination and lessen evaporation. The inlet should be designed to exclude surface drainage and prevent pollution. This requires fencing off the area and providing proper drainage. Figure 9-10 shows a spring inlet protected in this manner. The screen on the overflow pipe prevents the entrance of insects and small animals. Another screen on the intake pipe prevents large suspended particles being ingested by the pump used to distribute the springwater. This prevents mechanical failure or reduces it to a minimum.
The flow of water from a spring located on a steep slope of loose earth can be obtained by the following two methods.
Constructing deep, narrow ditches leading from the spring to the point of collection.
Constructing pipeline tunnels from the spring to the collecting points. Pipe of large diameter is more suitable for this purpose. The water from the tunnels can be trapped by constructing a dam at the point of collection.
Digging is a more positive and more economical method of developing a spring than blasting. You must proceed with great caution if you use exposives to develop the yield from springs. Blasting in unconsolidated rocks may shift the sand or gravel in such a way as to divert the spring to a different point.
The method used for the development of springs as a water source will depend upon the extent and characteristics of the flow. Thermal (hot) springs should not be developed since their waters are likely to be highly mineralized.
Regardless of the type of construction, all springs must be covered. Surplus water should be piped from the structure so surface water cannot
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