Optimization of Water Distribution System Using WaterGEMS: The Case of Wukro Town, Ethiopia

This study was aimed to optimize the designed water distribution system in the Wukro town using WaterGEMS model. The Darwin Designer in WaterGEMS was applied for finding optimal pipe diameter to supply adequate quantity of water at satisfactory pressures to the end users. In the WaterGEMS model, the Darwin Scheduler of daily pumping operations tools also used for optimal control and operation of pump systems. The WaterGEMS model was implemented in water distribution networks which include 117 pipes (40.67km), 99 demand nodes (equivalent to 50480 end users) that are spread across a hilly area over a 1989m to 2046m elevation gradient. The model was calibrated at the selected nodes within very good performance. The results have shown that the maximum pressure before optimization is 31.1m and after optimization increased to 38.1m, the minimum pressure on the former is 7.9m and 16m later during peak hour demand. Comparison of results showed that the optimized networks reduce the cost by 9.6% than those of before optimization networks by traditional hydraulic. In addition to this, the optimal tanks filling/emptying arrangement decreased the daily cost of energy consumptions by 12.5% compare as a currently scheduled pump. The finding of this study indicated that the WaterGEMS model is a promising approach for optimal sizing of pipes in design water distribution networks and pumping operational schedules. Keywords : Water Distribution Network, Genetic Algorithm, Pipe Diameter, Energy consumption, Darwin Designer, Darwin scheduler DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-01 Publication date: June 30 th 2020