Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 - (Page 38)

the distribution system. A different form of the equations must be solved to predict what will happen during these events and what can be done to prevent damage. Other kinds of model runs include: • Water quality, which tracks water quality or water age through source blended systems • Criticality, which can help you identify critical pipes and valves in the system whose failure might be especially disruptive or costly • Fire flow analysis, which evaluates available fire flow and pressures • Energy, which projects how much energy pumps should be using during daily operation • Maintenance flushing, which helps establish and manage a main flushing program • Automated design, which helps size pipes and plan rehabilitation In addition to the hydraulic equation solver, models have a graphical user interface (GUI), which enables the user to visualize the network model as it is being built and display output in tables, on maps, with graphs, contours and proﬁ les. Some examples of these are shown across the bottom of pages 34-35. How do we create a model of our system? Building a model of a particular system consists of obtaining the software, learning how to use it and providing the input data to describe the system. The input data consists of three overall types of data: 1. Description of the physical characteristics: pipe sizes and connectivity, elevations, pump characteristics 2. Assignment (rate and location) of various types of water demands 3. Selection of the operating conditions (which pumps are running, what the tank water level is) to be simulated To create a model, the minimum requirement is an inventory and consolidation of paper maps of the system and as-built drawings. Users can directly and easily draw the network and manually input descriptive data and demands. However, it is more frequently the case these days that commercial tools are used to automate the model building process. To relieve the user from the tedium and potential for error in manual data entry, data can be imported from existing sources such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) maps, GIS (Geographical Information Systems) systems and databases. The basic law of computer modeling can be summarized by GIGO – Garbage In – Garbage Out. The quality of the results of a model analysis is directly related to the case exercised by the user in gathering and entering model data. In building a model, it is best to “start small by thinking big.” That is, it is better to gradually layer detail into the model by incorporating the larger mains early in the process and then adding in smaller diameter mains. These large main models are referred to as skeletonized models, and by carefully crafting your models by layering detail, you will gain familiarity and better understanding of the system early on and nurture a growing understanding about the behavior and character of your distribution system. Junior the newest addition to the Levelogger Family Reduce Your Bottom Line $385.00 US A low cost alternative in the Levelogger Series Accuracy of 0.1% FS 32,000 Datapoints 5 Year Battery 1 Year Warranty Compatible with Levelogger Gold Series, software and accessories www.solinst.com High Quality Groundwater & Surface Water Monitoring Instrumentation Solinst Canada Ltd., 35 Todd Road, Georgetown, ON L7G 4R8 Tel: +1 (905) 873-2255; (800) 661-2023 Fax: +1 (905) 873-1992; (800) 516-9081 Visit our website: www.solinst.com E-mail: instruments@solinst.com 38 • First Quarter 408998_SolinstCanadaLtd.indd 1 2009 11/17/08 8:48:32 PM http://www.solinst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 Contents From the President Question & Answer: Water Conservation in the Home Avoiding the Humpty Dumpty Approach to Data Backup From the CEO What the Future Holds Asset Management for Small Communities Understanding Your Surface Water Source: The Rivers Hydraulic Models Expeditionary Water Packaging System Graces Delta The Rural Water Rally in April Training in Hawaii Regulatory Update Rural Water Releases Report on Water Infrastructure Projects and Economic Stimulus Legislation Throwing My Loop Advertisers.com Index to Advertisers

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

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