Hydraulic Modeling: Pipe Network Analysis

Water modeling is becoming an increasingly important part of hydraulic engineering. One application of hydraulic modeling is pipe network analysis. Using programmed algorithms to repeatedly solve continuity and energy equations, computer software can greatly reduce the amount of time required to analyze a closed conduit system. Such hydraulic models can become a valuable tool for cities to maintain their water systems and plan for future growth. The Utah Division of Drinking Water regulations require cities to maintain hydraulic models of their culinary water systems, and before additional connections can be made to the water system, a licensed professional engineer must model the additions to water system and determine if the additional connections can be made without negatively impacting the existing system. This is known as the Hydraulic Modeling Rule, or R309-511 in the State Administrative Code. The State of Utah has set the minimum pressure and flow requirements a culinary water system must meet. Before cities can qualify for state or federal funding to complete water system improvement projects, they must first demonstrate through a hydraulic model that they are providing the required minimum flows and pressures for all the service connections within the system, or that their improvement project will remediate any deficiencies to comply with the State’s pressure and flow requirements