Evaluating Hydraulic Performance of Urban Water Supply Distribution System: A Case Study of Woreta Town South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Water supply distribution systems facing challenges to deliver quality and adequate quantity of water with the require velocity and pressure. These challenges come from rapid population growth, migration to urban cities, scarce water resource, poor design, poor operation and poor maintenance of the system. These also expose infrastructural decay, inefficient distribution system and water demands on pipeline increasing every day. Woreta, which found northern Ethiopia in south Gondar zone Amhara Region, is rapidly grown commercial town. To assure this growth a potable, reliable and adequate quantity water supply is needed. Then evaluating the hydraulic performance of water supply distribution system of the town was paramount important to upgrade the distribution system or add new resource to meet current and future demand. The main objective of this research was to evaluate hydraulic performance of water distribution system based on widely accepted key standard. Evaluating hydraulic performance of water distribution system is useful to identify the gap between supply and demand, as well as the deficiency of hydraulic parameters in water supply distribution system. To achieve the main objective of the research three specific objectives were set. These were evaluating the water supply versus demand, assess water in the distribution system and simulate hydraulic parameter with EPANET. To strength, this research previous works were reviewed, which were related to the studied area. Primary and secondary dates were collecting to achieve the objective of this research. After the necessary data collected data analysis, model built and simulation were done. Hydraulic network Simulation with EPANET was carrying out because of to track water supply, water demand, flow velocity and pressure at each node. Both single and extended period simulation carried out for one ward. According to the research result, the following were found. Woreta population in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 was 32757, 34165, 35634, 37167and 38765 respectively. Woreta town was exposed for sever water shortage in 2011-2015. Because of supply (l/p/d) of each year were below unit demand (20l/s). Water loss (percentage) in 2011-2015 was 25.1, 25.28, 26.18, 28.51, and 29.07 respectively. Additionally, water supply service coverage in Woreta town was 78.9%. 21.1% of Woreta town population was lived without water supply service connection. During steady state simulation water supply was fail at each node to meet nodal demand. Moreover, at extend period pressures at 12 out of 27 junctions were higher than recommended pressure (60m) and the flow velocity 30 out of 36 links were below minimum allowance velocity (0.6m/s). Based on the research outputs, the following activities were recommended. These were population should be clearly know, new water source should be add to meet current and future demand, water loss should be combat, water quality analysis should be done and upgraded existing water supply system into three clearly defined pressure zone, such as for elevated area, commercial(tall building) area and lower area