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Water Distribution System Hydraulic Model

Client:Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
Location:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Project Objective:
Update, calibrate, and apply a computer model of the City of Pittsburgh's water distribution system.


Solution:
The original Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) water distribution system model was developed approximately ten years ago. Since then significant modifications to the system have been completed, operating protocols may have changed, and changes in water usage rates have been noted. PWSA has retained Chester to update and calibrate the computer model and verify that it accurately reflects the water distribution system. Once this is accomplished, Chester will apply the model to investigate various issues of concern to PWSA and support the identification and evaluation of system improvement options. The modeling software employed in this project is the Advantica SynerGee Water Model.

PWSA's water system consists of more than 1,500 miles of water mains ranging in size from 4-inches to 72-inches in diameter serving more than 80,000 customer accounts. The computer model being used by Chester includes 24,600 water main segments, 49 pumps, 15 tanks and reservoirs, 600 valves, and 21,300 node locations where the model provides pressure and hydraulic grade data.

Key task elements of this project include:

  • Project initiation and scoping
  • Updating the model representation of the physical elements of the system
  • Assigning elevations to 21,300 nodes based upon available digital 5-foot contour interval data using sophisticated GIS data analysis procedures
  • Updating the model representation of water demands
  • Model testing and preliminary calibration against SCADA system performance data
  • Extended period calibration and model verification including field testing
  • Application of the model to address specific issues, including investigating persistent low pressure areas: testing potential modifications to the operation of the City's Highland #1 and Highland #2 reservoirs to improve system performance and reliability; and evaluating the implications of changes to clearwell operations on distribution system performance


Key Project Features:

  • Develop an updated computer model
  • Expand the dimensions and improve the resolution of the model
  • Improve distribution and allocation of modeled water demands
  • Calibrate and verify the model


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