Gathering Accurate Data for Capital Improvement Plans and Emergency Action Plans

Hydraulic Analysis and Modeling

Today, and especially in this industry, being prepared for the unknown is a necessity. Being actively prepared for emergencies and future unforeseen conditions can greatly benefit municipalities. This type of planning can help cities explore the capacity of their utilities in determining their next Capital Improvement Projects based on the high-risk infrastructure areas. Isolating issues that may occur in a system over time such as overloaded pipes or pressure surges can be easily investigated using Hydraulic Modeling.

Insight and Impacts of Flows

Hydraulic modeling illustrates the effect that changing demand, gaining infrastructure and emergency conditions can have on a water distribution system. These models can help utilities predict systematic pressures and identify “weak” or “high-risk” areas within the system as well as demonstrate the predicted effectiveness of proposed solutions. Utilizing hydraulic models to evaluate various improvement scenarios in an established system can aid in reducing the expenses associated with infrastructure rehabilitation.

How OEI can Help

At OEI, we employ hydraulic modeling to assist our clients with various significant aspects of water systems. This includes reducing water loss, figuring out how many meters can be serviced with existing infrastructure, identifying necessary infrastructure improvements to better serve communities, creating Capital Improvement and Master Plans, developing Emergency Action Plans for events like firefighting and line breaks, and implementing the best Standards of Operation for flushing and isolating lines as needed. Utilizing tools such as WaterGEMS allows OEI to better understand the behavior of a system and help improve its longevity and reliability. If you're interested in learning more about this topic, please contact Rich Oller, the President of OEI, at (806) 993-6226.

By Rich Oller – PE, OEI President