View Important Policies and System Requirements for this course.

INSTRUCTOR:  Benjamin Fennell, P.E., M.ASCE

Participants will have access to the virtual workshop video archives and materials for 60 days from the start day of the workshop.

Virtual Workshop Brief

Our water distribution system infrastructure is aging and in need of replacement. Prioritizing capital improvement projects is greatly needed as funds are limited. Developing a water distribution system hydraulic model provides a user the ability to assess distribution system infrastructure holistically and make informed decisions for capital improvements. This workshop will equip the participant with the skills necessary to build a water distribution system hydraulic model, calibrate the model, and critically assess the performance of the distribution system using freely-available EPANET software. Participants will be able to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects by collectively evaluating a case study.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Build a water distribution system hydraulic model.
• Calibrate a water distribution system hydraulic model.
• Evaluate daily, seasonal, and future water demand scenarios.
• Critically assess the performance of water distribution system infrastructure.
• Investigate impacts of future capital improvement projects on water distribution system infrastructure.
• Construct a water distribution system hydraulic model for systems ranging in size and complexity.
• Explain essential model calibration efforts required for accurate system representation.
• Holistically evaluate existing and proposed water distribution system infrastructure.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Achievement of the learning outcomes by attendees will be assessed through online discussion and case studies. A short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions) will also be administered.

Who Should Attend

• Water distribution system specialists
• Civil/Environmental Engineers
• Water utility employees (entry to senior level)
• Water utility operators (entry to senior level)
• Consultants (entry to senior level)
• Regulators
• Contractors

Workshop Outline

Using a collaborative and interactive learning approach, this virtual workshop will help you understand the basic building blocks of water distribution system hydraulic model creation and calibration. Group discussions will encourage you to think through the water distribution system(s) you oversee and the challenges associated with limited infrastructure data. Between the two live sessions, attendees will work independently to build their own water distribution system hydraulic model from provided data. Attendees will then discuss and collectively assess the water distribution system hydraulic model during the second live session.

Day 1

• Introduction and overview of workshop.
• Essential components of a water distribution system model.
• Nodes and pipes.
• Existing and future average day demand.
• Existing and future maximum day demand.
• 24-hour diurnal curve development.
• Water demand allocation.
• Pump curve and operational controls.
• Water storage tank filling and draining cycles.
• Pressure reducing valves.
• Pressure zone control.
• Assignment of homework

Day 2

• Overview of Day 2.
• Review of homework assignment.
• Hazen-Williams pipe roughness coefficients.
• Hydrant testing.
• Hydraulic model calibration.
• Water pressure analysis.
• Fire flow analysis.
• Pipe condition assessment.
• Water storage tank operation optimization.
• Pump curve assessment.
• Capital improvement project recommendations.
• Infrastructure assessment for future development.
• Review of full workshop.

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This virtual workshop is worth .4 CEUs/4 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 60 days of the virtual workshop.