Designing and Analysing Water Networks Using Computer Applications - 5-Day Professional Course

Course Overview

This water network design and computer modeling training provides comprehensive skills in hydraulic analysis using multiple industry-standard software platforms. Covering EPANET, WaterGEMS, and complementary tools, this course equips professionals to design cost-effective distribution systems, optimize operations, and solve complex hydraulic challenges. With water utilities investing $650 billion globally in infrastructure, computer-aided design delivers 20-40% cost savings through optimized sizing, energy efficiency, and performance verification before construction.

Target Audience

• Water distribution system engineers

• Network design consultants

• Municipal utility planners

• Civil and hydraulic engineers

• Asset management professionals

• Operations and maintenance managers

• GIS analysts in water sector

• Engineering graduates

• Infrastructure project managers

Day 1: Hydraulic Theory and Introduction to Modeling Software

Morning Session: Water Distribution System Fundamentals

Hydraulic Principles for Network Design

Understanding fundamental concepts underlying all modeling software:

Energy equation and Bernoulli’s principle - Total energy (pressure + elevation + velocity head) remains constant minus losses. Applications in pipe sizing, pump selection, and system layout.

Head loss calculations:

• Hazen-Williams equation - Most common: hf = 10.67 × L × Q^1.85 / (C^1.85 × D^4.87)

• Darcy-Weisbach equation - Physically based: hf = f × L × V² / (2gD)

• Roughness coefficients: PVC (C=150), new ductile iron (C=130), aged cast iron (C=80-100)

Continuity and conservation principles - Flow in equals flow out at junctions, mass balance throughout network ensuring computational accuracy.

Pressure requirements - Minimum 20 psi (14 m) during peak demand and fire flow, maximum 80 psi (55 m) preventing leakage and infrastructure damage.

Velocity constraints - Maximum 2.5 m/s preventing erosion and water hammer, minimum 0.3 m/s avoiding sedimentation.

Afternoon Session: Software Platform Overview

Comparing Modeling Tools

EPANET (EPA, free open-source):

• Advantages: Free, widely adopted, extensive documentation, academic support

• Limitations: Basic interface, manual data entry, limited automation

• Best for: Educational purposes, small systems, budget-constrained projects

WaterGEMS/WaterCAD (Bentley, commercial):

• Advantages: CAD/GIS integration, optimization tools, professional support, automated design

• Investment: $3,000-8,000 per license

• Best for: Utilities, consulting firms, complex systems requiring optimization

InfoWater (Innovyze, commercial):

• Advantages: ArcGIS native integration, enterprise asset management, real-time modeling

• Best for: GIS-centric utilities, smart water networks

Software installation and setup - Installing EPANET and trial versions of commercial software, configuring preferences, understanding file formats and data exchange capabilities.

Hands-On Exercise:
Creating identical simple network (10 nodes, 1 reservoir, 1 tank) in both EPANET and WaterGEMS, comparing interfaces, workflows, and result presentations understanding strengths of each platform.

Day 2: Network Data Development and Model Building

Morning Session: Data Collection and Preparation

Essential Model Input Requirements

Topographic data - Digital elevation models (DEMs), survey data, or LiDAR providing junction elevations accurate to ±1 meter. Elevation errors cause significant pressure calculation mistakes.

Infrastructure inventory:

• Pipe data - Diameter, length, material, installation date from GIS databases or as-built drawings

• Pump data - Manufacturer curves (head-flow-efficiency), rated capacity, installation details

• Storage data - Tank geometry, operational levels, overflow elevations

• Valve data - Type, size, location, operational settings

Demand data sources:

• Customer meter records providing actual consumption

• Census data and per capita factors (residential 150-400 L/capita/day)

• Land use classifications with unit demand rates

• Industrial/commercial customer surveys

Data quality assessment - Identifying gaps, validating consistency, resolving conflicts between data sources. Poor data quality causes 60-80% of modeling errors.

Afternoon Session: Model Construction Techniques

Building Networks Efficiently

Manual construction:

• Drawing junctions and pipes using point-and-click

• Coordinate entry for precise geometry

• Property assignment through dialog boxes or tables

• Suitable for small systems (<100 nodes)

CAD/GIS import:

• Converting AutoCAD drawings to model format

• Importing shapefiles with attribute mapping

• Handling coordinate system transformations

• Cleaning topology errors (disconnected pipes, duplicate nodes)

Database integration:

• Connecting to enterprise GIS geodatabases

• Automated attribute population from linked tables

• Synchronization workflows maintaining data consistency

Network connectivity verification - Checking isolated nodes, reversed pipe directions, missing elevations, and unrealistic property values using automated validation tools.

Demand allocation strategies:

• Point allocation to nearest junctions

• Area-weighted distribution using Thiessen polygons

• Pipe-length proportional allocation

• Hybrid approaches balancing accuracy and effort

Workshop:
Building 50-node network from provided CAD base map and infrastructure database, allocating demands from customer data, validating connectivity, and running initial simulation identifying and correcting errors.

Day 3: Hydraulic Analysis and Design Applications

Morning Session: Steady-State and Extended Period Simulation

Simulation Types and Applications

Steady-state analysis - Single snapshot representing specific condition (peak hour demand, average day, minimum night flow). Used for initial design verification, fire flow testing, and capacity assessment. Fast computation suitable for iterative design refinement.

Extended period simulation (EPS) - Time-varying analysis over hours or days capturing operational dynamics: tank filling/draining, pump cycling, pressure fluctuations, and control sequences. Essential for storage sizing, pump scheduling, and operational optimization.

Diurnal demand patterns - Creating hourly multiplier curves:

• Residential: morning peak (6-9 AM) at 1.8×, evening peak (6-9 PM) at 1.6×, night minimum (2-4 AM) at 0.4×

• Commercial: mid-day peak (10 AM-2 PM) at 1.5×, relatively flat otherwise

• Industrial: constant or shift-based patterns

Control logic programming:

• Simple controls: “Start Pump1 if Tank1 level below 3m, Stop if above 7m”

• Time-based: “Close Valve5 from 10 PM to 6 AM” for zone isolation

• Conditional: Complex logic combining multiple criteria optimizing operations

Afternoon Session: Design Workflow and Pipe Sizing

Systematic Design Methodology

Step 1: Design criteria definition

• Pressure requirements (minimum/maximum)

• Fire flow standards (ISO, NFPA, local codes)

• Velocity limits and water quality considerations

• Redundancy and reliability requirements

Step 2: Preliminary layout

• Following street alignments and easements

• Looped versus branched configuration (looped preferred for reliability)

• Transmission main routing and pressure zone boundaries

• Storage facility and pump station locations

Step 3: Initial pipe sizing

• Using velocity method (Q = A × V) with target velocity 1.0-1.5 m/s

• Applying unit head loss criteria (3-8 m/1000m typical)

• Selecting from standard sizes (100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400mm)

Step 4: Hydraulic verification

• Running simulations checking pressure compliance

• Fire flow testing at critical locations

• Identifying bottlenecks and deficiencies

Step 5: Design iteration

• Upsizing undersized pipes or adding parallel mains

• Adjusting pump capacity and tank sizing

• Optimizing for cost-effectiveness

Economic pipe sizing - Balancing capital costs (larger diameter more expensive) against operational costs (smaller diameter higher pumping). Life-cycle cost analysis using present value determines optimal diameter typically 15-25% smaller than conservative velocity-based sizing.

Case Study Exercise:
Designing water network for new residential development (300 homes), calculating demands, establishing layout, sizing pipes, verifying fire flow adequacy, and optimizing design achieving 20% cost reduction through iterative analysis.

Day 4: Advanced Analysis and Optimization

Morning Session: Water Quality Modeling

Constituent Transport and Treatment

Water age tracking - Simulating residence time from source to consumption. High age (>5 days) indicates stagnation risking quality degradation through disinfectant decay, nitrification, and biofilm growth.

Chlorine decay modeling:

• Bulk decay in water: Ct = C0 × e^(-kb×t), kb typically 0.3-1.5 per day

• Wall decay at pipe surfaces: kw varies by material (iron 1.0-2.0 m/day, PVC 0.0-0.1)

• Regulatory compliance maintaining minimum 0.2 mg/L throughout network

Source tracing - Determining contribution percentages from multiple supply sources (wells, treatment plants, interconnections) informing supply allocation, cost recovery, and quality management.

Water quality improvement strategies:

• Eliminating dead-end pipes through system looping

• Downsizing oversized pipes reducing residence time

• Optimizing tank mixing and turnover

• Strategic booster chlorination station placement

• Unidirectional flushing programs

Afternoon Session: Energy Optimization and Pump Scheduling

Reducing Operational Costs

Pump performance analysis:

• Operating point determination (system curve intersecting pump curve)

• Efficiency evaluation (wire-to-water efficiency typically 60-75% for fixed-speed, 75-85% for VSD)

• Specific energy calculation (kWh/m³) benchmarking performance

Variable speed drive (VSD) benefits:

• Energy savings 30-50% compared to throttled fixed-speed operation

• Affinity laws: power proportional to speed cubed (50% speed reduction = 87.5% power reduction)

• Soft starting reducing mechanical stress and water hammer

Optimal pump scheduling:

• Leveraging time-of-use electricity tariffs (off-peak rates 40-60% lower)

• Tank storage buffering demand peaks

• Multiple pump sequencing and parallel operation

• Modeling demonstrates 25-40% energy cost reduction through scheduling optimization

Pressure management:

• Strategic pressure reducing valve (PRV) placement creating zones

• Leakage reduction through lower average pressure (10% pressure reduction = 7% leakage decrease)

• Preventing pipe bursts extending infrastructure life

Optimization tools:

• Genetic algorithms exploring thousands of design alternatives

• Darwin Designer (WaterGEMS) automated pipe sizing and component selection

• Multi-objective optimization balancing cost, reliability, and performance

Workshop:
Analyzing existing network energy consumption, developing optimized pump schedule using EPS, simulating VSD implementation, and calculating ROI demonstrating 35% operational cost reduction with 4-year payback.

Day 5: Model Calibration and Professional Applications

Morning Session: Model Calibration and Validation

Achieving Predictive Accuracy

Model calibration adjusts uncertain parameters (demands, roughness coefficients) matching field observations enabling confident prediction and design decision-making.

Field data collection:

• SCADA data (tank levels, pump status, flow rates, zone pressures)

• Temporary pressure loggers (15-minute intervals, 7-14 days, 10-20 locations)

• Flow measurements (bulk meters, insertion meters, ultrasonic devices)

• Fire hydrant flow tests (pressure-flow relationships validating capacity)

Calibration methodology:

1. Mass balance - System input versus billed consumption plus estimated losses (±5% closure)

2. Demand validation - Adjusting nodal demands and patterns matching tank level fluctuations

3. Roughness adjustment - Modifying C-values (typically ±10-20 from initial estimates) achieving pressure match ±3 psi, flow match ±10%

4. Sensitivity analysis - Testing parameter variations identifying critical inputs requiring field verification

Automated calibration tools:

• Darwin Calibrator (WaterGEMS) using genetic algorithms

• EPANET optimization extensions

• Reducing calibration time 60-80% versus manual trial-and-error

Model validation - Testing calibrated model against independent dataset (different time period or demand conditions) confirming predictive capability.

Afternoon Session: Specialized Applications and Reporting

Advanced Modeling Scenarios

Fire flow analysis:

• ISO/NFPA requirements (residential 500-1,500 gpm, commercial 1,500-3,500 gpm at 20 psi residual)

• Automated testing identifying deficient zones

• Improvement scenario evaluation meeting compliance

Emergency planning:

• Pipe failure simulations identifying vulnerable zones lacking redundancy

• Contamination event modeling tracking dispersion and developing isolation strategies

• Pump failure scenarios evaluating backup capacity adequacy

System expansion and master planning:

• Future demand scenarios (5, 10, 20-year projections)

• Phased infrastructure investment strategies

• Growth area service evaluation and capacity planning

Pressure zone analysis:

• Optimal boundary identification balancing operational efficiency and pressure uniformity

• PRV placement and setting determination

• Inter-zone transfer evaluation during emergencies

Professional reporting and documentation:

• Executive summaries with key findings and recommendations

• Technical appendices with methodology, assumptions, and detailed results

• Hydraulic profile plots (HGL along critical paths)

• Pressure contour maps identifying service level variations

• Cost estimates and economic analysis supporting investment decisions

Capstone Project:

Comprehensive real-world modeling assignment requiring:

• Building network model from provided GIS and infrastructure data (150+ nodes)

• Demand allocation from customer database

• Calibration using field measurement data

• Design analysis identifying existing deficiencies

• Expansion design for projected growth area (500 connections)

• Fire flow compliance verification

• Energy optimization and operational recommendations

• Professional engineering report with graphics, tables, and cost-benefit analysis

Project demonstrates integrated competency across all course topics preparing participants for immediate professional application.

Course Outcomes

Graduates will master:

• Hydraulic theory and network design principles

• EPANET and WaterGEMS/WaterCAD software operation

• Model building from multiple data sources

• Steady-state and extended period simulation

• Water quality constituent modeling

• Pipe sizing and economic optimization

• Energy analysis and pump scheduling

• Model calibration techniques

• Fire flow and capacity assessment

• Professional reporting and documentation

Certification

Participants receive SciTcc Water Network Design and Computer Modeling Professional certificate demonstrating proficiency in hydraulic analysis, network design optimization, and engineering software applications for water distribution systems.

Keywords: water network design training, hydraulic modeling course, EPANET training, WaterGEMS course, distribution system design, pipe sizing calculation, network optimization, water quality modeling, pump scheduling, fire flow analysis, model calibration, hydraulic analysis software, water infrastructure design, computer aided design water, network modeling certification