Course detail

Water Tanks and Pumping Stations

FAST-BPB007Acad. year: 2026/2027

The course comprehensively covers the most important structures of water supply systems, which are water reservoirs and pumping stations. Students will become familiar with the principles of their design, structural and technological solutions, and the possibilities of using computer simulations for their design.

In the block dedicated to water reservoirs, students will learn to design their elevation placement and calculate the required storage volume. Attention is focused on the dimensioning of storage tanks according to the ČSN 75 5355 standard, structural and construction details (including the issue of joints and ventilation), and methods of their construction. An important part is also the design of pipe fittings in valve and control chambers and the overall assessment of the technical condition of these structures.

The subsequent section, focused on pumps and pumping stations, will guide students through the issues of water transport. They will master working with the hydraulic characteristics of pumps (Q-H curves, power output, efficiency) and gain detailed knowledge of cavitation risks and suction capacity (NPSH). The instruction covers the design of both the structural and mechanical-technological parts of pumping stations (according to ČSN 75 5301), the design of suction and discharge arrangements, water hammer protection, the connection of variable speed pumps, and the operation of automatic booster stations.

A highly specialized practical aspect of the course is the mathematical modeling of water supply networks. In the EPANET 2.2 software, students will practice creating the model topology from AutoCAD backgrounds and subsequently perform both static and quasi-dynamic hydraulic analyses of model water supply networks. During the simulations, they will learn to optimize pump performance, maintain network pressure within the limits of Czech legislation, and analyze the age of the distributed water. They will then translate their calculations into comprehensive reports and illustrative contour maps of the supplied areas. Both lectures and practical exercises are aimed at mastering the practical creation and use of a water supply network simulation model.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Jan Ručka, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Municipal Water Management (VHO)

Entry knowledge

Water Supply, Hydraulic 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Students are required to actively participate in the practical classes and submit all assignments on time, correctly completed, and in the prescribed format and level of detail, for which points are awarded by the instructor. To obtain course credit, it is necessary to achieve more than 50 percent of the points. A maximum of two absences in the practical classes is permitted. To successfully pass the examination and complete the course, students must pass a computer-based knowledge test and a subsequent oral examination.

Aims

By completing this course, the student will acquire:

Professional Knowledge

  • Knows the operating principles, construction types, and functions of water reservoirs and pumping stations within water supply systems.
  • Understands the hydraulic characteristics of pumps (Q-H curves, power output, efficiency), suction capacity (NPSH), cavitation risks, and the physical principles of water hammer occurrence.
  • Is familiar with valid industry legislation and technical standards, primarily ČSN 75 5355 (Water Reservoirs) and ČSN 75 5301 (Water Pumping Stations), and knows the legislative limits for pressure conditions in water supply networks.
  • Comprehends the theoretical foundations of mathematical modeling of water supply networks, the principles of quasi-dynamic analysis, and the factors affecting the age of distributed water.

Professional Skills

  • Can calculate the required storage volume and design the optimal elevation placement of a water reservoir.
  • Is able to design the structural and technological solutions for water reservoirs and pumping stations, including the design of pipe fittings in valve chambers, suction and discharge arrangements, and water hammer protection.
  • Masters the EPANET 2.2 software environment for both building and routinely using a hydraulic network model.
  • Applies computer simulations to perform static and quasi-dynamic analyses, to optimize pump performance and operation, and to regulate network pressure.
  • Processes the results of simulations and data analyses into clear textual reports and visualizations.

Professional Competences

  • Is capable of comprehensively solving technical tasks related to the design, assessment, and optimization of water reservoirs and pumping stations.
  • Gains the ability to critically evaluate the technical condition of existing facilities, analyze fault states in the water supply network (e.g., non-functional regulation, dangerous pressure drops), and propose effective solutions.
  • Is professionally equipped for expert communication and teamwork with specialists from related professions when designing complex technological units of pumping stations.

Study aids

The study materials required to successfully complete the course are accessible to students via the BUT e-learning platform.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SI Bachelor's

    specialization V , 4 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Jan Ručka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1. Water reservoirs - placement, types, water levels, and volume.
  • 2. Water reservoirs - structure, construction, joints, ventilation.
  • 3. Water reservoirs - pipe fittings and other equipment.
  • 4. Field trip No. 1 to a selected water reservoir and pumping station in Brno and its immediate surroundings.
  • 5. Hydraulic analysis of a water supply network using EPANET.
  • 6. Demonstration of the creation and practical application of a large model of a real water supply network.
  • 7. Pumps - classification of pumps.
  • 8. Pumps - pump characteristics, functional equations, pumping systems.
  • 9. Pumping stations - functional requirements, inflow and suction arrangements, discharge piping.
  • 10. Field trip No. 2 to a selected water reservoir and pumping station in Brno and its immediate surroundings.
  • 11. Regulation and optimization of pump operation, automatic booster stations.
  • 12. Special valves, optimization of water supply system operation.
  • 13. Water hammer - basic equations for calculation, measures to prevent water hammer.

Exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Jan Ručka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1. Friction head losses – hydraulic calculation of pipelines.
  • 2. Design of a water reservoir storage tank – dimensions, water levels, pipe fittings.
  • 3. Practice of the ČSN 75 5355 standard – Water Reservoirs.
  • 4. Field trip No. 1 to a selected water reservoir and pumping station in Brno and its immediate surroundings.
  • 5. EPANET 2.2 – building a water supply network model (topology and network skeleton import).
  • 6. EPANET 2.2 – inserting a water reservoir, entering parameters, running the calculation.
  • 7. EPANET 2.2 – static hydraulic analysis – results, reports, export of results.
  • 8. EPANET 2.2 – quasi-dynamic hydraulic analysis.
  • 9. Practice of the ČSN 75 5301 standard – Water Pumping Stations.
  • 10. Field trip No. 2 to a selected water reservoir and pumping station in Brno and its immediate surroundings.
  • 11. Regulation and optimization of pump operation, automatic booster stations – practical exercise with a network model.
  • 12. Regulation and optimization of pressure conditions in the water supply network – use of special valves.
  • 13. Course credit.