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Identify the reasons for creating a water system plan and the steps you should take to create one.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
5 min.
Transcript
00:04
The first step in understanding water system planning for utilities
00:08
is to review the reasons for creating a plan.
00:11
Once you identify the end goals, you can use them as the basis for moving through the plan development process.
00:18
There are generally four factors that justify developing a water plan:
00:23
Growth: A utility might need to plan for future growth to serve parts of the existing service area that have not yet been developed,
00:32
or to accommodate service area expansion.
00:36
Periodic updates may also be driven by local Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
00:42
Regulatory requirements / changes:
00:46
These types of changes may require plan updates that consider water quality,
00:51
chlorine residual and residual pressure improvements in the distribution system.
00:56
For example, in recent years the EPA has mandated reductions in lead and copper at points of consumption,
01:04
as well as reductions in PFOS compounds in finished water.
01:09
Maintaining proper chlorine residual levels in remote parts of a distribution system
01:14
may require installation of localized chlorine injector facilities.
01:19
Booster pump stations may be required to maintain adequate pressure in areas of the system with higher elevation.
01:27
Reliability:
01:29
The reliability of existing infrastructure needs to be considered in these plans.
01:34
Much of the infrastructure currently in service may be reaching the end of its useful life
01:40
and will require an upgrade or replacement.
01:44
System efficiency:
01:46
New technology and optimization need to be considered as part of future improvements to the system.
01:53
These may include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
01:58
system implementation or improvements,
02:01
variable frequency drive (VFD) pump controls, diversion of water to other parts of the distribution system via valve closure, etc.
02:12
By creating a water system plan, utilities can predict the infrastructure changes required
02:19
at future planning horizons in an orderly and systematic manner in keeping with budgetary constraints.
02:26
Several considerations are necessary when creating a water system plan.
02:31
These include the following:
02:33
Planning and design criteria:
02:36
What are the minimum pressure, minimum and maximum pipeline velocity criteria; end criteria for future customers;
02:45
minimum storage requirements; and fire flow criteria?
02:50
Model creation:
02:52
Identify what is needed and desired, and determine if a full model rebuild is necessary
02:59
or if the existing model can be updated (e.g., how up to date is the owner’s water system GIS?).
03:07
Water demand projections:
03:10
Examine meter billing and consumption records for at least the most recent 12-month period,
03:16
including maximum-day and peak-hourly demand conditions.
03:20
Examine population projection data from local Planning Agencies to estimate demands for all future planning horizons.
03:28
Model calibration:
03:31
Confirm that the model is reasonably calibrated according to published literature.
03:37
Water supply evaluation:
03:40
Determine current and future water supply needs.
03:43
Distribution system analysis:
03:47
Evaluate whether the system can adequately meet existing and projected demands,
03:52
including its ability to satisfy fire flow requirements.
03:57
Determine what improvements are necessary to satisfy design criteria for both current and future customers.
04:04
Capital Improvement Plan:
04:07
Based on previous steps, develop a Capital Improvement Plan for each planning horizon
04:13
so that utility owners can justify budgetary requirements and scheduling for improvements.
04:20
Each of these steps is an essential part of the overall plan.
Video transcript
00:04
The first step in understanding water system planning for utilities
00:08
is to review the reasons for creating a plan.
00:11
Once you identify the end goals, you can use them as the basis for moving through the plan development process.
00:18
There are generally four factors that justify developing a water plan:
00:23
Growth: A utility might need to plan for future growth to serve parts of the existing service area that have not yet been developed,
00:32
or to accommodate service area expansion.
00:36
Periodic updates may also be driven by local Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
00:42
Regulatory requirements / changes:
00:46
These types of changes may require plan updates that consider water quality,
00:51
chlorine residual and residual pressure improvements in the distribution system.
00:56
For example, in recent years the EPA has mandated reductions in lead and copper at points of consumption,
01:04
as well as reductions in PFOS compounds in finished water.
01:09
Maintaining proper chlorine residual levels in remote parts of a distribution system
01:14
may require installation of localized chlorine injector facilities.
01:19
Booster pump stations may be required to maintain adequate pressure in areas of the system with higher elevation.
01:27
Reliability:
01:29
The reliability of existing infrastructure needs to be considered in these plans.
01:34
Much of the infrastructure currently in service may be reaching the end of its useful life
01:40
and will require an upgrade or replacement.
01:44
System efficiency:
01:46
New technology and optimization need to be considered as part of future improvements to the system.
01:53
These may include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
01:58
system implementation or improvements,
02:01
variable frequency drive (VFD) pump controls, diversion of water to other parts of the distribution system via valve closure, etc.
02:12
By creating a water system plan, utilities can predict the infrastructure changes required
02:19
at future planning horizons in an orderly and systematic manner in keeping with budgetary constraints.
02:26
Several considerations are necessary when creating a water system plan.
02:31
These include the following:
02:33
Planning and design criteria:
02:36
What are the minimum pressure, minimum and maximum pipeline velocity criteria; end criteria for future customers;
02:45
minimum storage requirements; and fire flow criteria?
02:50
Model creation:
02:52
Identify what is needed and desired, and determine if a full model rebuild is necessary
02:59
or if the existing model can be updated (e.g., how up to date is the owner’s water system GIS?).
03:07
Water demand projections:
03:10
Examine meter billing and consumption records for at least the most recent 12-month period,
03:16
including maximum-day and peak-hourly demand conditions.
03:20
Examine population projection data from local Planning Agencies to estimate demands for all future planning horizons.
03:28
Model calibration:
03:31
Confirm that the model is reasonably calibrated according to published literature.
03:37
Water supply evaluation:
03:40
Determine current and future water supply needs.
03:43
Distribution system analysis:
03:47
Evaluate whether the system can adequately meet existing and projected demands,
03:52
including its ability to satisfy fire flow requirements.
03:57
Determine what improvements are necessary to satisfy design criteria for both current and future customers.
04:04
Capital Improvement Plan:
04:07
Based on previous steps, develop a Capital Improvement Plan for each planning horizon
04:13
so that utility owners can justify budgetary requirements and scheduling for improvements.
04:20
Each of these steps is an essential part of the overall plan.
First step in understanding water system planning for utilities: review the reasons for creating a plan.
Use identified end goals as a basis for moving through the plan development process.
By creating a water system plan, utilities can predict infrastructure changes required at future planning horizons in an orderly and systematic manner in keeping with budgetary constraints.
Growth:
Might need to plan for future growth to serve parts of existing service area not yet developed, or to accommodate service area expansion.
Periodic updates may be driven by local Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
Regulatory requirements/changes:
May require plan updates that consider water quality, chlorine residual and residual pressure improvements in distribution system.
Example: EPA mandating reductions in lead and copper at points of consumption, and reductions in PFOS compounds in finished water.
Maintaining proper chlorine residual levels in remote parts of distribution system may require installation of localized chlorine injector facilities.
Booster pump stations may be required to maintain adequate pressure in areas of higher elevation.
Reliability:
Need to consider reliability of existing infrastructure.
Much of current infrastructure may require upgrade or replacement.
System efficiency:
Need to consider new technology and optimization for future system improvements.
Each step is an essential part of overall plan.
Planning and Design Criteria:
Identify:
Model creation:
Identify what is needed and desired.
Determine if full model rebuild is necessary, or whether existing model can be updated—for example, how up-to-date is the water system GIS?
Water demand projections:
Examine meter billing and consumption records for at least recent 12 months, including maximum-day and peak-hourly demand conditions.
Examine population projection data from local Planning Agencies to estimate demands for future planning horizons.
Model calibration:
Confirm that model is reasonably calibrated according to published literature.
Water supply evaluation:
Determine current and future water supply needs.
Distribution system analysis:
Evaluate whether system can adequately meet existing and projected demands, including satisfying fire flow requirements.
Determine what improvements are necessary to satisfy design criteria for both current and future customers.
Capital Improvement Plan:
Based on previous steps, develop Capital Improvement Plan for each planning horizon, so utility owners can justify budgetary requirements and the scheduling of improvements.
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