Real time water utility model using GIS: A case study in Coimbatore district

Abstract

Water has become the eternal wonder in 21st century with rapid increase of population and expansion of city limits. The demand for the water has grown up exponentially. Water distribution network needs an efficient modeling for the operation and maintenance with minimal errors in catering to the needs of people with the equitable amount of water through out the year. Creating a simulation model of a real time water distribution network with the account of the pressure and elevation to analyze the flow distribution between the nodes and demand in the network. Geographical information system is an effective tool for decision support using ArcGIS and Water-gems software. Here we tried to characterize the size of pipes with the different diameters of pipes used in the network. The results of the simulation model shows drastic change in the demands resulting in consequences like back-flow, high pressure zone and negative pressure leading to the leakage of pipes making more investment towards the installation and maintenance cost. Main aim of this research is to carry out hydraulic modelling of water distribution network using GIS and reducing the leakage in the pressure zones in saving the time and to minimize the expenditure towards the maintenance. Thus by creating an equity model for the water distribution network in fulfilling minimal demand required across the city.