Water network design & water quality modelling
- Transmission and distribution networks in steady state and extended-period simulation
- Pump sizing, control-valve sizing and pressure-management strategies
- Water-age, chlorine decay and MSX-based multi-species water-quality studies
We support water utilities, consultants and EPC contractors with hydraulic and water-quality modelling for potable water networks. Our studies focus on robust pressure management, reliable fire flows, and safe, well-mixed water quality across complex distribution systems.
Why network design & water-quality modelling matter
Modern water systems are expected to maintain pressure, provide fire flows and deliver safe water quality under a wide range of operating conditions. Poorly configured networks can lead to low pressures, excessive leakage, ageing water, chlorine loss and customer complaints.
Well-structured hydraulic and water-quality studies help you to:
- Verify that pressures stay within acceptable limits for both peak and minimum demand
- Size pumps, control valves and PRVs correctly for current and future scenarios
- Check fire-flow performance at critical nodes and key customers
- Understand water age, storage turnover and chlorine decay across the network
- Support capital planning, operational changes and regulatory or internal reviews
What we offer in a network & water-quality study
1. System understanding & base model
- Review of existing models, GIS data, as-built drawings and operational information
- Definition of network extents, key customers and critical assets
- Set-up or refinement of EPANET / InfoWorks WS Pro base models
- Calibration against pressure, flow and level records where data are available
2. Hydraulic scenarios & asset sizing
- Steady-state and extended-period simulations for typical and extreme demands
- Pump sizing, duty/standby configuration and control-logic assessment
- Control-valve and PRV sizing, setpoint selection and pressure-management options
- Analysis of critical mains, DMA boundaries and redundancy routes
3. Water-quality & optimisation
- Water-age mapping for tanks, transmission mains and distribution zones
- Chlorine decay modelling (bulk and wall) using EPANET and MSX where required
- Assessment of storage turnover, boosting locations and dosing strategies
- Recommendations to improve pressure, resilience and water-quality performance
Typical deliverables
A typical water network and water-quality study will provide the following outputs, tailored to your project stage and questions:
- Summary report with key risks, constraints and recommended interventions
- Maps and plots of pressures, flows, velocities and levels for critical scenarios
- Tables of minimum / maximum pressures and level-of-service checks
- Water-age and chlorine-concentration plots for tanks and distribution zones
- Sizing and configuration recommendations for pumps, valves and storage
- Updated model files and run files, on request, for your internal use
Tools and methods
We use widely accepted network-modelling tools combined with practical engineering experience, so that results can be trusted by design teams and operators.
- Hydraulic software: EPANET, InfoWorks WS Pro and similar tools
- Water-quality tools: EPANET quality mode and EPANET MSX for multi-species studies
- Data inputs: demand patterns, pump curves, valve settings, tank curves and SCADA histories where available
- Verification: sanity checks, sensitivity tests and comparison with field data where possible
- Presentation: clear figures, tables and GIS-ready outputs suitable for reports
How we typically work with you
Step 1 – Brief & data
We clarify the objectives of the study, review existing information and models, and agree scenarios, assumptions and deliverables with your team.
Step 2 – Modelling & testing
We refine or build the network model, run the agreed hydraulic and water-quality scenarios, and test practical options to improve performance.
Step 3 – Recommendations & handover
We present findings to your team, document recommendations clearly and provide plots and model files that can be used in future projects.