AWWARF - Guidelines for Developing, Calibrating, and Using Hydraulic Models

A considerable effort has been made over the last 30 years to develop hydraulic models of water distribution systems. These models have  evolved from iterative hand calculations to sophisticated software linking with advanced applications such as GIS and SCADA. While modeling was originally considered to be available only to sophisticated utilities, the improvements in computing power and accessibility of software has opened
the modeling field to utilities of all sizes and capabilities. Throughout the evolution of modeling, the water industry has struggled with defining appropriate calibration standards and techniques. This struggle has been difficult because of the system-specific nature of modeling and the wide range of model uses, each requiring different degrees of certainty in the outcome. The goals of this project are to provide concise, comprehensive, and user-friendly guidance on development, calibration, and application of hydraulic models for distribution systems. A guidance document on these topics has been needed in the water industry for a number of years and the increasing popularity of modeling has made this a critical item. More details about the project can be found at http://www.waterresearchfoundation.org/research/topicsandprojects/projectSnapshot.aspx?pn=4018.