Performance Evaluation and Development of SDSS for Gaza City Water Network (Case Study The northern Nasser Area)

Abstract

Studies have been expanded heavily at water networks sector. It is resorting to determine the causes of losses at networks, as well as to reduce the leakage and work on water delivery in accordance with the demographic distribution of the growing dramatically in developing countries specially. The objective of this research is to stand on performance evaluation of Gaza City water network by using hydraulic modeling and geographic information system, assess the efficiency of network (The northern Nasser area from El Jalaa Street to Shiekh Radwan) and develop Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) of The northern Nasser water network as a pilot scale. All the data were taken from the field measurements, references and WaterCAD results. The population counts were generated from Geographic Information System (GIS) programs, and Excel sheets were used to get missing data. A hydraulic model was analyzed at the pilot distribution zones. Calibration and SDSS used to identify the technical problems at prototype. A pilot study area (Zone 1) was divided into two zones (Zone 1A and 1B). Six data logger were put at pipelines which supply zones to measure the flow rate and the pressure. The data logger measurements used to calibrate the model. SDSS was proposed for the pilot area (Zone 1A and 1B). Calibration accuracy (the difference between modeling and data logger values) nearly reached to 96%. The results indicated that 82% of Zone B, the water velocity ranged between 0-0.25 m/s while in Zone A the percentage is 59%. 70% of the water pressure at Zone A has 2 bars while in Zone B the percentage is 72% for 1 bar. The low values of the velocities may result from the leakage at the system. The developed SDSS of the pilot scale study may be used at all zones of Gaza city to improve the network efficiency and effectiveness of operation. In addition, the results of this research will be the base of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA( system to make the system more automated and specify any sudden problem at the system and to give more accurate data.