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Water Distribution / Process Piping

What it is

The distribution of water through a building with multiple zones and/or floors requiring constant water circulation, while allowing for variable differences based on occupancy, usage characteristics and process requirements.

How it works

Every building has an extensive system of process water piping that acts to distribute water from the incoming municipal supply into the appropriate uses.  Most commonly referred to as a buildings’ “plumbing” this system ensures that different demand sources (bathroom fixtures, industrial processes, hydronic cooling systems, domestic hot water systems, irrigation etc.) all receive the water they need in an efficient manner.
Mechanically speaking this means that the water distribution must reach all demand sources, must provide water at a variety of pressures, must ensure that appropriate filtration is possible, must have shut offs and bypasses should certain parts of the distribution require maintenance; and finally must ensure that no cross contamination can occur from potable to non potable water sources.
 
Benefits

• A well laid out distribution can ensure adequate supply to each floor in a multi-residential building in a timely manner in order to meet suite demand
• A well laid out distribution can isolate zones to account for differences between industrial process and human uses
• A well laid out distribution is more efficient requiring less pumps to serve demand, allowing lower installation and maintenance costs
• A well laid out zone based distribution can be easily isolated to incorporate water heat recovery, and water saving systems