Water Simulation Packages (WSP)

We, as water resources engineers, have a lot of data for our water distribution systems and other projects we run. To maintain the data we use all kind of ways: databases, Excel files, AutoCAD drawings and more. There is a new tool that can help us keep our data in a more intuitive way. A 3D information organizer.

This new computer information organizer software lets you organize your information just the way you like in 3D space. You can have different areas for elements like pumps, valves, tanks and more. Each area in the 3d space you divide into sub sections for different network section and more.

Take a quick look at this demo video and consider signing up as beta-testers for the software.

See what other people wrote about 3d mindmapping software review.

The shower accounts for approximately 20% of indoor water use, and about 60% of hot water use. Older shower heads put out water at a rate of 4.5 to 8 gallons per minute (gpm). Low flow models operate at a range of 1.5 to 2.5 gpm. Low flow shower heads are available in a wide range of flow characteristics, so it should be possible to find a model that suits you. At the end of the day you will be saving water.

But water is not the only thing you will save. There is also CO2. You will save about 136 kg of CO2 each year just by installing low flow shower heads. If you also adjust your hot water heater from 60°C to about 50°C, you will save an additional 217 Kg of CO2 (you can find 20 simple tips fro lowering your home’s carbon footprint here).

At the end of the day, when you install a low flow shower heads and adjust your water temperature, you save water, CO2 and money!

Have you noticed the new web site EPANET.com? This new site states that it is:

Your one-stop source for software technology, news, and collaboration for the municipal water distribution modeling industry.

The site brings industry headlines, EPANet files download, few white papers, one book for sale and a registration form for a forum.

In the footer of the web page it is said that:

EPANET.com is not affiliated with or managed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or any other governmental agency

So who is behind this web site?
Looking at the one book offered, “Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management “, the software link to “WaterCAD V8 XM“, the registration option to “WaterTalk” and the authors of the withe papers, it is clear that Haestad Methods (currently Bentley) is behind the site.

To make sure I have checked the domain registry for the owner of the epanet.com domain. Up until about a month ago the domain was registered under the name of Bentley. At this time the owner of the domain is hidden. I suspect that the owner did not change - but I could be wrong.

I have nothing against Bentley opening a site at EPANET.com but it would be only fair that they will disclose this fact.

I have been looking at the statistics of this web site and found the most common keywords that people are using in their search engine searches. Here are the top 15 keyphrases used on search engines:

1. h2onet
2. dxf2epa
3. epanet
4. synergee
5. sewercad
6. epanet2
7. water simulation
8. elad salomons
9. h2omap
10. new epanet
11. water hammer software
12. kypipe
13. gisred
14. vosoughifar
15. epanet forum

Date: April 26. 2006 1:00-2:30pm
EPA’s Interactive Sampling Guide for Drinking Water Operators. Web conference. For Drinking Water Operators and others interested in learning about sample collection.

How many times have you pondered the question: “How do I collect that sample?” This webcast is for all new and veteran water system, technical assistance, and regulatory staff interested in learning about EPA’s interactive sampling guide for drinking water operators. The CD has four components:
1. Sampling Guide- In both video and powerpoint formats
2. Rule Wizard- a web-based program that allows the user to input
basic system information to generate the Federal sampling requirements
3. Case studies- Several case studies highlighting how other small
systems with detected contaminants dealt with their particular situation.
4. National Contaminant List- Easy download or view of the National
Contaminant List

More webcasts and information at the The Safe Drinking Water Trust web site.

According to the New York Sun “New York City’s water supply could be the target of contamination if a water system map made its way into the wrong hands…”

New York City’s water supply could be the target of contamination if a water system map made its way into the wrong hands, an environmentalist said.

The threat has arisen since someone broke into a vehicle belonging to a Department of Environmental Protection maintenance supervisor and stole an agency laptop containing a map of the water system. If the map was detailed enough,”there could be the opportunity to pose a threat,” the executive director for the Center for Environmental Information, Cindy Stachowski, said. Even without a map, Ms. Stachowski added, someone pouring biological, chemical, or radiological contaminants into a fresh water source could adulterate the water system.

Source: The New York Sun

In an answer to a question titled “A question about backflow” on the EPANET User-List Elin Warn gave a link to an article by the EPA:

The purpose of this document is to review existing literature, research,and information on the occurrence, magnitude, and nature of the public health risks associated with cross-connections and backflow, from both acute and chronic exposures, and methods for detecting and controlling the occurrence of cross-connections and backflow within distribution systems. More specifically,the goal of
this document is to review what we know regarding:
(1)causes of contamination through cross-connections;
(2)the magnitude of risk associated with cross-connections and backflow;
(3)costs of backflow contamination incidents;
(4)other problems associated with backflow incidents;
(5)suitable measures for preventing and correcting problems caused by cross-connections and backflow;
(6)possible indicators of a backflow incident;
(7)research opportunities.

See the full text here.

This web site was started on December 2004 and now it is one year old. During this year I have tried to find all most of the water simulation packages available.

Judging from the popularity of the posts here EPANET is the most requested item and the DXF2EPA is the most popular tool. Another popular service is the EPANET User-List archive.

I would like to wish all of you a happy new year and all the best

Hello all,

If you have any news item that may be suitable to be included in this web site, please let me know.

You can just drop me a note using the contact form.

Thank you,

Elad

Wallingford Software announced a new version release of InfoWorks:

The latest release of Wallingford Software’s InfoWorks, Version 6.5, offers extended features in all three products – water supply, collection systems, and river systems.

InfoWorks WS boasts extensive new function in its water quality capabilities. The path and concentration of externally introduced substances can be traced from reservoir through the entire distribution network. This is applicable to both standard substances such as chlorine, and any malign introductions that are the subject of much security analysis at present.

Read the full press release.