What is a Water Pipe?
Water Pipes | A water pipe is any pipe or tube designed to transport drinking water to consumers. If the water is treated before distribution or at the point of use (POU) depends on the context.
Sizes of Pipes
- Pipes are available in various sizes depending on the distance of water supply and layout of connection. Length of pipes can exceed up to 800 m and above depending on the type.
- Smaller pipes are suitable for low pressure irrigation systems while large pipes are suitable for high pressure systems i.e. sprinklers.
- Water pipes can range in size from giant mains of up to 3.65 m in diameter to small 12.7 mm pipes used to feed individual outlets within a building.
Connecting pipes
Pipe Connections require various special types of fittings and kits depending on the structure and layout of an irrigation system. In addition, pipe connections also depends on certain factors such as pressure ratings, material compatibility, size match and application.
Connecting pipes requires fittings such as;
- Connector fittings – Elbow, Tee, drip connectors
- Adapter fittings – Male or female
- End caps
- Couplings
- Union fittings – Single and double
- Filters
- Ball corks
- Valves
- Laterals
Types of Water pipes
There are several types of irrigation pipes. However, the most common pipes for water supply purposes are;Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes
Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride polymers.
PVC pipes are rigid and long-lasting. They widely supply water in irrigation systems due to their affordability, resistance to corrosion and ease of installation. They come in different diameter sizes to supply different volumes of water.
Hydro Polythene pipes (HDPE)
Flexible hard and lightweight pipes.
Resistant to UV rays, chemical corrosion and abrasion thus making them suitable for surface and underground installation.
They are commonly used in agricultural irrigation such as drip and rain hose systems.
Hose Pipes
Flat, thin walled tubes with even space emitters that deliver water directly to plant roots in irrigation systems such as drip irrigation or rain hose irrigation.
Installation and Layout of Water Pipes
There are two ways to install pipes on an irrigation system or domestic plumbing uses.
- Surface Pipe Installation – Laying pipe connections on the ground surface. Applies to pipes that do not require critical connections.
- Underground pipe installation – Suitable or meant for pipe that have a high network of connections that may take a lot of space.
