Hydraulic Performance Assessment Of Urban Water Supply System: The Case Of Batu Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ensuring The Supply Of Safe Drinking Water, The Distribution System Is As Important As The Water Resources And Treatment Facilities. This Study Was Initiates The Objective Of Assessing The Hydraulic Performance Of The Water Distribution Network Of Batu Town By Modeling And Analyzing The Existing Water Distribution System. Water Cad/Gems Software Was Used In Evaluating The Hydraulic Performance Of The Water Distribution System Of Batu Town. Steady- State And Extended- Period Simulation Analyses Were Carried Out To Determine Hydraulic Parameters Such As Pressure And Velocity. Both Primary And Secondary Data Were Collected And Software Such As Water Cad V8i, Autocad Arcgis Version10.4, And Others Like Geographic Positioning System Were Used. The Hydraulic Performance Of Existing Batu Water Supply Simulated Result For Steady-State Analyses Showed That 31% Operated Under15mwc, 10.5% With Pressure > 60m, And The Remaining 59% For Pressure Values 15-60m Which Is The Optimum Adopted Pressure. 76% Of Distribution Pipes Have A Velocity Between 0.6- 2m/S, Or 3% Of The Distribution System Performs With An Optimum Velocity Above 2m/S. For Extended Period Simulation 25.76% Is Negative Pressure,10.5%>60mwc Which Is Greater Than The Maximum Adopted Pressure And This Caused Water Losses In The System. Only 63.75% Pressure In The Adopted Range 15-60m That The Distribution Hydraulic Performs Within The Optimum Adopted Pressure. 52 Pipes In The Systems Have A Velocity > 2m/S And The Remaining Have A Velocity Between 0.60-2.0m/S During High Demand Time. The Average Per Capita Water Consumption Of Batu Town In 2021 Was 23.59 L/C/D Which Is Much Lower Than 50 L/C/D. The Hydraulic Problem That Arose In The System Resulted From Incorrect Nodal Placement And Improper Pipe Connection During Designing The System And When Expanding The Network To The Newly Settlement Area. The Potential Of The Projected Water Demand Increment In Batu Town Is Greater Than The Current Supply Potential Of Water Sources. Batu Town?�?S Water Demand Averagely Increases By 26.1% Every Five Years Up To The Year 2035. Finally, Poor Hydraulic Performance Of The Town Should Be Improved By Conducting Elegant Operation And Maintenance, Water Quality Test And Leakage And Water Losses Management.