Transcript automated unidirectional flushing software - PNWS-AWWA

Automated Unidirectional
Flushing Software Programs
Proven Technology or Vaporware?
Presented by:
David Stangel, P.E.
ds@msa-ep.com
Murray, Smith & Associates, Inc.
www.msa-ep.com
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Engineer as a Designer of the Human Body
 Three engineering students were gathered together
discussing the possible designers of the human
body.
 One said, ``It was a mechanical engineer. Just look
at all the joints.''
 Another said, ``No, it was an electrical engineer. The
nervous systems has many thousands of electrical
connections.''
 The last said, ``Actually it was a civil engineer. Who
else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a
recreational area?”
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What is Unidirectional Flushing or UDF?
 The sequential closing of system valves and
opening of hydrants to obtain adequate pipe
velocities to flush debris, dirty/discolored water
from the system
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How is it Different than
Traditional Flushing Methods?
 Additional planning is required


Identification of flushing areas using hard copy maps
Typically aided by a hydraulic model to identify valve/hydrant
sequence and simulate velocities and discharge rates
 Targets velocities of 5 ft/s (min 3 ft/s)
 Traditional flushing doesn’t guarantee adequate
velocities

Normally positive redundancy and looping works against
flushing
 Traditional flushing may drop system pressure below
20 psi
 Traditional flushing may involve all hydrants

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UDF only flushes strategically placed hydrants
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UDF Compared with Traditional Flushing
Flushed Hydrant
Flushed Hydrant
Closed Valves
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Why Flush?
(other than for obvious personal reasons)
 Maintains distribution system water quality
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
Restores disinfectant residual

Reduces disinfectant demand

Reduces bacterial growth

Dislodges biofilms

Removes sediments and deposits

Restores flows and pressures

Eliminates taste and odor problems
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Why Flush?
 Other reasons for UDF
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
Increases general system understanding for staff
– Integrates new staff

Identifies missing/broken valves/hydrants

Leverages hydraulic model/GIS investment

Uses less water than traditional techniques (up to 40%)

Corrosion control
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Keys to an Effective UDF Program
 Plan, plan, plan
 Quality maps with pertinent information for field
crews
 Operations staff input

Incorporate parts of existing flushing programs where
possible
 Public notification
 Yearly or bi-yearly flushing schedule
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What Information is Required
to Develop a UDF Plan?
 Hydraulic model

Requires a calibrated model

Steady state or extended period mode
 Hydrant/valve GIS layers


CAD information can be utilized if available
Assumptions for locations can be made if layers don’t exist
 Firm understanding of system operation
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UDF Software
Recent releases by software vendors suggest that
developing a UDF plan using their tools is an easy next
step.
Should we believe it?
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UDF Software cont.
It is relatively straightforward with completely clean
data in exactly the required format.
We all know how often that is the case. 
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Available Tools
 MWH Soft & Bentley
Systems
 MWH Soft

UDF - separate module

Requires InfoWater (ArcGIS)
license
 Bentley

www.msa-ep.com
Includes UDF with all platforms
(stand alone, CAD, ArcGIS)
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Available Tools
 Pricing dependent on number of pipes
 Example List Prices for 5000 pipe model


Bentley – WaterGEMS $12k + cost of AV
MWH Soft - InfoWater $8k + UDF $7k + cost of AV
 MWH Soft

Valves and hydrant laterals do not increase pipe count

Pipes are not split
 Bentley
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
Requires a split where hydrants intersect pipes

Laterals must be entered

No split for valves
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Approaches to UDF
 MWH Soft

UDF focus
– Can automatically close all valves along pipe
alignment
 Bentley

Starts with conventional flushing

Progresses to UDF
– Valves open as default
– User closes
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UDF Model Building Process
 Add valves/hydrants
 Was the model created from GIS?
 Valves/hydrants to be operated should be provided
 QA/QC
– Are hydrant and valve numbers populated and
unique?
– Valves
○
Does layer “register” with model?
– Hydrants
○
○
Number of ports and size
Elevations
– Hydrant laterals
○
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Length and diameter
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UDF Model Building Process
 Valves & Hydrants are key for building the UDF
database
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Hydrants
 Pertinent attributes
associated with hydrant
 Requires preprocessing

“Pipe” attributes not normally
associated with hydrants
– Length, roughness,
diameter
 Non-hydraulic information
can be tracked
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Hydrants
 Auto-associated to model
pipes in InfoWater UDF

Auto-calcs mainline
distance

Hydrants can be associated
“mid-pipe”
 Must be “built” into
Bentley’s network

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Generated by
InfoWater UDF
Includes splits at hydrant
laterals
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Valves
 Ensure correct valve/pipe
association
 Auto-associated

InfoWater UDF

Bentley
 Non-hydraulic information
can be tracked
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Valve Registration
 What we want to see
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 Making our life interesting
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Registration Issues
 Valve registration can be critical

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If the user wants to use valve ids for closing in the field
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Model Tools
 Many InfoWater QA/QC and data building tools are
unavailable in UDF
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
Unique valve/hydrant identifiers

Hydrant elevation interpolation

Association of lateral attributes to hydrants
– Lateral length and diameter

Visual check for valve associations

General editing of valve/hydrant databases

Cannot fully leverage Domain Manager in UDF
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Model Tools cont.
 In general the Bentley flushing tools are integrated
into the modeling platform

Biggest limitation is the requirement for building hydrants
and laterals into the model database
– Adds pipes to model increasing price
– Adds unneeded complexity for most modeling
procedures
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UDF Model Building
 Don’t underestimate the effort
 Can be significant depending on input data quality

Particularly if the model has not been created from GIS
 When old data is put to a new use, previously
unknown “issues” arise

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Plan for it 
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UDF Analysis Criteria
 Typical flushing
velocity

Min 3 ft/s

Target 5 ft/s

Shear stress
criteria can be
used in
InfoWater
 Min system
pressure
typically 20 psi
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Analysis Process
 Using large format
system map:

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Mark up flush zones
– Typically pressure
zones or smaller
– Each zone
associated with a
“primary” source
– Each zone includes
a number of flush
sequences
– Work from source to
system periphery
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Analysis Process
 In the model:

Identify initial flush pipeline(s)

Identify what hydrant(s) will be opened

Identify valves to be closed
– Take care not to isolate portions of the system from
water
– Minimize valve closures
○
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Labor intensive for field crews
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Example InfoWater
UDF Flushing Sequence
Sequence 1
Sequence 2
Sequence 3
Sequence 4
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Tabular InfoWater UDF Output
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What Does the Field Crew Use?
 They need to know:
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
What system sources should be operating

What valves should be closed and when they should be
reopened
– Identify valve number and/or street intersection

What hydrants should be opened
– Identify hydrant number
– Identify flow to target
– Identify how long to run hydrant

They need a series of maps clearly showing the
sequences and associated information
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What is Currently Available
for Field Maps?
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Field Maps
 Bentley does not offer field map template
 Utilities are turning to in house or consulted ArcGIS
programming to develop field maps
 Some utilities want maps in the same format as
their standard field books
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So What Should You Do?
 Software vendors focus on “first to release” rather
than the product’s “polish”
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
Positive
– Vendors willing to work with users to enhance
products

Negative
– Enhancement turnaround time can be slow due to
large number of software packages supported

What level of usability and beta testing should users
expect?
– Price dependant
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Who Should Purchase these Tools?
 Developing a flushing program

Not like modeling tools that are used regularly

Takes an initial focused effort

No need to redo on a weekly/monthly basis
– unless growing rapidly
 If utilities use Bentley then they already own it

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Otherwise:
– Utilities – No
– Consultants – Yes
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Additional Development
 Primary areas for further development
www.msa-ep.com

InfoWater UDF
– Model building and QA/QC
– Field map customization capability

Bentley
– Associate hydrants without permanent pipe splits
– A field map generator
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Future Enhancements
 MWH Soft

Committed to more than 20 enhancements

More incentive
– UDF module sold separately
 Bentley
www.msa-ep.com

Open to suggestions for enhancements

Less incentive
– Included in modeling suite
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Summary
 UDF





www.msa-ep.com
Ensures adequate flushing velocities are being achieved
Can reduce the number of hydrants operated
Can reduce the amount of flushed water used
Can reduce the frequency of required flushing
– Does a more effective job of removing debris, biofilm
and dirty water
Provides a target flow rate for flushing
– Should minimize unnecessary low pressures
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Summary cont.
 AWWA and industry supports UDF plan
development beyond traditional flushing
 Software tools will be more valuable/usable once
additional enhancements have been made
 If a utility has:

Invested in a hydraulic model

Accurate valve/hydrant information
they can develop a UDF plan with reasonable effort
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So Flush Away!
 Special Thanks to:

Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District

City of Redmond, Oregon

Matt Caldwell, Bentley Systems

Erick Heath, MWH Soft
 Questions?
ds@msa-ep.com
www.msa-ep.com
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