Bu1 Notes Lecture
Bu1 Notes Lecture
1. Overview
○ Plumbing: Systems of pipes and fixtures for water supply and wastewater
removal.
○ Sanitary System: Specialized subset of plumbing for wastewater management.
○ Essential for public health, comfort, environmental protection, and building
functionality.
2. Historical Development
○ Ancient Civilizations: Egyptians, Romans, and Indus Valley Civilization pioneered
water transport, aqueducts, and urban sanitation systems.
○ Middle Ages to Renaissance: Limited advances in Europe but saw revival of
Roman engineering principles.
○ Industrial Revolution: Innovations in cast iron, lead, and copper pipes; sanitary
reform movements.
3. Importance
○ Public health: Prevents waterborne diseases.
○ Comfort: Provides modern amenities.
○ Environmental protection: Minimizes pollution.
○ Building functionality: Includes fire protection and HVAC integration.
4. Plumbing Systems Concepts
○ Water Supply System: Includes pipes, valves, fittings, pumps, and tanks,
ensuring clean, pressurized, and uncontaminated water delivery.
○ Drainage System: Gravity-based systems for wastewater removal.
○ Ventilation System: Prevents sewer gas entry using vent pipes and air balance.
○ Trap Systems: Maintain water seals to block sewer gases.
5. Common Terms
○ Trap, vent pipe, backflow, cross-connection, fixture, and cleanout.
6. Philippine Plumbing Code
○ Governs design, installation, and maintenance of plumbing systems.
○ Ensures public health, safety, and compliance with international standards.
LECTURE 2
1. Sources of Water
○ Surface water (rivers, lakes), groundwater (aquifers), precipitation, and reclaimed
water.
2. Uses of Water
○ Domestic: Drinking, cooking, hygiene, and cleaning.
○ Agricultural: Irrigation and livestock health.
○ Industrial: Cooling, machinery cleaning, and processing.
○ Environmental: Ecosystem health and recreational activities.
3. Properties of Water
○ Physical: States (solid, liquid, gas), density, viscosity, surface tension, and
temperature sensitivity.
○ Chemical: Polarity, pH levels, hardness, salinity, and dissolved solids.
○ Biological: Presence of microorganisms, organic matter, and nutrients like
nitrogen and phosphorus.
4. Water Quality Issues
○ Pollution: From point and non-point sources.
○ Eutrophication: Excess nutrients causing algae blooms.
○ Acidification: Decrease in pH harming aquatic ecosystems.
○ Depletion & Salinization: Overuse and increased salt levels.
5. Water Treatment Methods
○ Physical: Filtration, sedimentation.
○ Chemical: Disinfection, coagulation, flocculation.
○ Biological: Activated sludge, trickling filters.
○ Advanced: Membrane filtration, UV disinfection.
6. Water Conservation
○ Focused on sustainability, maintaining quality, and addressing challenges like
climate change and urbanization.
7. Future Challenges
○ Climate change, population growth, industrialization, and the need for
technological innovation in water resource management.
LECTURE 3
1. Overview of the Plumbing Code
○ Governs the installation and maintenance of plumbing systems in the Philippines
to protect public health and safety.
○ Originates from the Plumbing Law of 1955, amended and updated as the
National Plumbing Code of the Philippines (NPCP) in 1999.
2. Types of Plumbers
○ Apprentice Plumber: Beginners under supervision, typically for 3–5 years.
○ Journeyman Plumber: Skilled in installing and repairing plumbing systems after
apprenticeship.
○ Master Plumber: Licensed professionals responsible for designing and ensuring
compliance with plumbing systems.
3. 22 Basic Principles
○ Principle 1: All premises must have pure, uncontaminated water with safeguards
against backflow or siphonage.
○ Principle 2: Adequate water supply and pressure must be maintained for proper
functioning of fixtures.
○ Principle 3: Systems should minimize water usage while ensuring performance.
○ Principle 4: Water heating and storage devices must prevent overheating
hazards.
○ Principle 5: Buildings with access to public sewers must connect to them.
○ Principle 6: Basic sanitation fixtures are mandatory for family dwellings.
○ Principle 7: Fixtures must be non-absorbent, smooth, and in ventilated
enclosures.
○ Principle 8: Drainage systems must avoid clogging and ensure easy
maintenance.
○ Principle 9: Plumbing materials must be durable and compliant with standards.
○ Principle 10: Fixtures connected to drainage must include water-sealed traps.
○ Principle 11: Proper venting is essential for air circulation and trap seal
protection.
○ Principle 13: Systems should undergo rigorous testing to detect leaks or defects.
○ Other principles address backflow prevention, fixture placement, and
environmental safeguards.
4. Testing and Installation Standards
○ Plumbing systems are tested with water or air to ensure durability and safety.
○ Regulations include standards for pipe materials, layouts, and fixtures.
LECTURE 4
1. Introduction
○ Adequate, clean, and running water is essential for all plumbing fixtures.
○ Systems must include mechanisms for flushing toilets and maintaining sanitary
conditions.
2. Unlawful Connections
○ Cross-connections or unprotected piping carrying unsafe substances are
prohibited to prevent contamination.
3. General Requirements
○ Backflow prevention devices include atmospheric vacuum breakers (AVB),
double-check valves, and pressure vacuum breakers.
○ All water systems must meet listed standards, maintain accessibility, and ensure
proper spacing and clearances.
4. Installation Requirements
○ Water pipes must be at least 0.3 meters below ground level and separated from
sewer lines to prevent contamination.
○ Gravity supply tanks must have vents and corrosion-resistant screens.
○ Systems experiencing inadequate or excessive pressure must incorporate
pressure regulators and relief valves.
5. Sizing of Potable Water Piping
○ Pipes must be sized to accommodate fixture units (FU) and ensure appropriate
water pressure throughout the system.
○ Maximum piping lengths, elevation differences, and street main pressure are
factors for determining pipe sizing.
6. Key Installation Details
○ Water pipes crossing sewers must maintain at least 0.3 meters of vertical
separation.
○ Ferrous piping must be coated or wrapped to prevent corrosion.
○ Union fittings should be positioned for maintenance access near regulating
equipment or heaters.
LECTURE 5
1. Sanitary/Soil Drainage System: Manages wastewater with fecal matter from toilets and
similar fixtures.
2. Vent System: Ensures airflow in the drainage system to prevent siphonage and back
pressure.
3. Waste Drainage System: Handles wastewater without fecal matter, such as from sinks
and showers.
4. Storm Drainage System: Manages rainwater and clear water, excluding sanitary waste.
Types of Wastewater
● Blackwater: Wastewater containing high organic matter and pathogens from toilets,
needing careful treatment.
● Greywater: Wastewater from sinks and showers, typically easier to treat and can be
reused for irrigation.
Additional Processes
LECTURE 6
1. Quality & Durability: Resistant to external/internal contact with foreign matter.
2. Chemical Resistance: Withstands acid waste and other chemicals.
3. Cost: Considers both material and labor expenses.
Pipe Fittings
Types of Pumps:
● Lift Pump: Utilizes a piston within a cylinder to pull water up from a source, with valves
to control water flow during up and down strokes.
● Force Pump: A pump that can move water to heights above the pump’s level by using
pressure. The plunger motion alternates valve openings to push water upwards.
● Submersible Pump: Designed to operate while submerged, typically at the end of a
deep well pipe.
● Sump Pump: Used to collect and manage waste water, especially in sewage
applications.
● Upfeed System: Relies on public main pressure to distribute water in low-rise buildings.
● Downfeed System: Uses gravity from an elevated tank to distribute water in buildings,
especially useful where city pressure is inadequate to reach higher floors.