WaterNAM

Hydraulic simulation for pipe sizing and rehabilitation
Pump scheduling and energy-cost analysis
Water quality simulation with or without multi source systems
Optimization of pump, valve and tank operations
Fire-flow analysis and hydrant rating

What is WaterNAM?

The Water Network Analysis Model (WaterNAM^™) is a geospatial hydraulic model for analysis and design of water distribution systems. It performs both steady state and extended period simulation of water flow and quality, including constituent concentrations and fire-flow analyses, and energy-cost assessment. WaterNAM utilizes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's EPANET software (version 2) as the simulation engine and ESRI's ArcGIS^® for spatial data development, providing a robust platform for engineers to design, analyze and optimize different components of a water distribution network. The extension allows users to efficiently set up a model and perform hydraulic and water quality simulation entirely within the ArcGIS^® system.

What are the typical applications of WaterNAM?

WaterNAM can be applied to

Model, design and analyze any water distribution system components

Design and optimize distribution pipe sizes and compute friction loss across the pipe network

Perform fire-flow analysis and design hydrant capacities

Model constant or variable speed pumps, pumping system arrangement and their control operation

Model and design storage tanks, and optimize tank operation (with or without pump control)

Allocate and optimize control valve location and their operation (e.g. pressure or flow regulation, pressure zone separation)

Estimate leakage losses, pressure dependent flow and flow from the emitter type nodes

Model chemical constituent quality and movement throughout the network

How is WaterNAM different from other similar water distribution models?

For hydraulic and water quality modeling of distribution networks, EPANET is referred as the fundamental program, and it's one of the most widely used applications in this sector. However, there are a number of advanced commercial packages available also like WaterCAD, InfoWater, KYPipe etc. Each of them have their own classified features for the modelers. In this aspect, WaterNAM joins the market with its unique credibility by bringing a geospatial environment in ArcGIS^® platform for the EPANET software, and obviously with reduced amount of cost and modeling effort for the users (compared to other applications).

Any experienced modeler would agree with the fact that preparing input data for a sophisticated model takes the lion's share of his/her total modeling time. Besides, the data processing for a large distribution model often becomes monotonous and complex simultaneously. By integrating EPANET within ArcMap^™, WaterNAM helps users to significantly reduce the time it takes to prepare model input, makes data processing almost automated, increase the accuracy of input data, store and manage data in a database environment and visualize and inspect model objects on a map. It allows users to run simulation and view output without ever exiting the GIS environment.