GIS and Water Distribution System Hydraulic Model, Royal Oak
DLZ was hired by the City of Royal Oak to perform GIS data entry, develop a water distribution system hydraulic model, and perform a Reliability Study. The City needed this to be compliant with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act and the study necessitated GIS data entry and hydraulic modeling.
The City did not previously have water main utility information in a GIS database. Therefore, using a global positioning system (GPS), DLZ located water mains, hydrants, auxiliary valves, meters, and gate wells to develop a hydraulic computer model for the City’s water system. Following this, the GPS data was entered into a GIS database to construct the water system geometric network. The City also wanted to include sanitary, storm, and combined sewer data. Aerial photographs and City records were reviewed to help verify the locations of sanitary, storm, and combined system structures.
Once the water system data model was constructed, a hydraulic water data model was developed and calibrated. Then, DLZ and City staff performed hydrant flow tests for model calibration purposes. The model included all system water mains within the City. Demand loading for the model was developed using City water billing data. Finally, the model was used to run simulations necessary to complete the required Reliability Study. The final study using data entry into GIS and Water Distribution System Hydraulic model and Reliability, which met the Michigan State Drinking Water Act, included
- All the vital system data, demands and modeling results
- Proposed system improvements
- Cost estimates for improvements
- The general plan