Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Water Distribution System and Demand Analysis: The Case of Mojo Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Assessing The Condition Of A Town's Water Distribution Network Is Essential For Monitoring Its Current And Future Management Approaches. Typically, The Hydraulic Performance Of Water Distribution Systems In Developing Countries Also Ethiopia There Is Insufficient To Deliver Available Water To Consumption Points. In Particular, The Existing Water Distribution System Of Mojo Town Is Not Properly Functioning, Resulting In The Utility's Inability To Meet Customer Demand Due To Significant Variations In Pressure And Demand Across Large Areas Of The Town. So, The Study' Was To Analyse The Town's Water Distribution System?�?S Efficiency, Potential For Improvement, And Costumer Perception. To Attain The Objective, The Hydraulic Performance Of The Distribution Network, Its Current And Future Water Demand And Water Losses Were Evaluated. The Data For This Study Was Collected From Both Primary And Secondary Sources, And Using Software Tools Such As Water GEMS, Autocad, Arcgis Version 10.7.1, Google Mapper, GPS And Conducting Sample Surveying Were The Methods Used To Meet The Specific Objectives The So-Called Software Tools, Like Water GEMS Modelling, Were Used To Provide A Graphical Display Of Results Obtained From Both Hydraulic Simulations. Moreover, The Result Indicate That The Average Water Consumption Of The Town Is 50.75 L/C/D In 2024, Which Is Less Than The Standard Of 80 L/C/D Designated For Category Two Towns. Currently, The Water Production Is 5313.22 M3/D, Which Adequately Meets The Demand Until The End Of 2030. Therefore, The Town Should Provide Additional Sources That Produce 263.6 M??/D To Satisfy Demand By 2035, Which Is Projected To Be 12938.48 M??/D. As Per The Evaluation Conducted, The Existing Total Water Loss Of Distribution System Of The Town Was Indicated 30.34%, Which Is Consider As NRW. This Value Exceeds The Maximum Standard Limit Of 25%, Based On The Above Figure The Apparent Losses Accounts 46.14% Of Total Loss And 53.86 % Is A Physical Loss Furthermore, The Hydraulic Performance Of The Water Distribution Network Was Assessed Through Water GEMS Modelling, Which Evaluated The Pressure Within A Limit Of 10 To 70 Mh2o While The Velocity Was In Between 0.6 And 2 M/S Both At Steady-State And Extended Period Simulations. Accordingly, The Result Indicates In The Scenario Of Pressures At Average Hour Demand, 57.56% And 14.79% Of Nodes Have A Pressure Below And Above Allowable Limits, Respectively, And Nodes That 27.56% Have A Pressure Within The Acceptable Limit. Although The Pipe Velocity Analysis Was Conducted, The Result Shows That 7.32% And 64.89% Of Pipes Have Velocity Above And Under Allowable Limits, Respectively, And 27.79% Of Pipes Velocity Is Within The Permissible Limit. Finally, Consider A Mechanism To Reduce High Pressure Through The Installation Of Pressure-Reducing Valves. Therefore, It Is Essential To Enhance And Rehabilitate The Capacities Of The Water Distribution System And Take Remedial Actions To Reduce The Water Loss More Significantly.