Evaluation of a Municipal Water Distribution Network Using waterCAD and waterGEMS.

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 147 - 156, 27.12.2019

Oloche Ekwule , Joseph Utsev

Abstract

The pressure
exerted on a water distribution system due to population increase and aging of
the system amounts to routine assessment of its functionality. waterCAD and
waterGEMS software was used comparatively in evaluating the serviceability of
the water distribution system of Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi. A
steady state analysis was also carried out to determine hydraulic parameters
such as pressure, velocity, head loss, and flow rate. The result of the
statistical analysis revealed that both simulators can be used interchangeably
since there were no statistical differences. The pressure result indicated low
head within the system which resulted to 100 percent (100%) of the nodes
operating below the adopted system pressure of 10 meters. Also, 85 percent
(85%) of the system velocity was within the range of 0.2 – 3 m/s adopted while
15% of the velocity exceeded the adopted velocity. The resultant effect of very
high velocities in the system accounted for the pipe burst and leakages
detected within the system. Hence, the system is inefficient and requires
strengthen for optimum performance.

Keywords

Water Distribution System, WaterCAD, WaterGEMS, Evaluation

Supporting Institution

nil

Project Number

nil

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