Water and Sanitation Engineering III
Assessment 2 (Project)
Year 2026
0027 68 628 1800
1
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 5
2.0 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 7
3.0 Literature Review ............................................................................................... 9
3.1 Critical Evaluation of the Water Supply Problem ............................................... 9
3.2 Design Period ................................................................................................. 10
3.3 Unit Water Demand ........................................................................................ 11
3.4 Design Principles of Water Distribution Systems ............................................ 11
3.5 Evaluation of Distribution Network Configurations .......................................... 12
3.5.1 Dead-End System ..................................................................................... 12
3.5.2 Radial System........................................................................................... 12
3.5.3 Grid Iron System ....................................................................................... 12
3.5.4 Ring System ............................................................................................. 12
3.6 Review of Current Water Distribution Technologies ........................................ 13
3.7 Socioeconomic and Environmental Considerations ........................................ 14
3.8 Design Methodology ....................................................................................... 14
4.0 Design Calculations, Simulations and Specifications .................................. 16
4.1 Design Assumptions ....................................................................................... 16
4.2 Population Projection ...................................................................................... 16
4.3 Average Daily Demand (ADD) ........................................................................ 16
4.4 Maximum Daily Demand (MDD) ..................................................................... 17
4.5 Peak Hour Demand (PHD).............................................................................. 17
4.6 Non – Revenue Water (NRW)......................................................................... 17
4.7 Reservoir Design ............................................................................................ 17
4.8 Pump Flow ...................................................................................................... 18
4.9 Transmission Main .......................................................................................... 18
4.10 Distribution pipes .......................................................................................... 18
2
, 4.11 Valve Schedule ............................................................................................. 19
4.12 Engineering Specifications ............................................................................ 19
4.13 EPANET Hydraulic Simulation ...................................................................... 20
4.13.1 Design Steps .......................................................................................... 20
4.13.2 Pressure Results .................................................................................... 21
4.13.3 Velocity Results ...................................................................................... 22
4.13.4 Head Loss Results .................................................................................. 23
5.0 Water Supply Network Design Layout, CAD Layout and Simulation Layout
24
5.1 Generic Water Supply System Layout ............................................................ 24
5.2 Detailed CAD Layout....................................................................................... 25
5.3 EPANET Simulation Layout ............................................................................ 26
6.0 Overall Discussion and Recommendations ................................................... 29
6.1 Overall Discussion .......................................................................................... 29
6.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................... 30
7.0 References ........................................................................................................ 31
8.0 Appendix ........................................................................................................... 32
3
,List of Figures
1. Proposed new stands near Ekujabuleni Primary School
2. Hydraulic Pressure Distribution of the Proposed Water Distribution Network
3. Flow Velocity Map of the Proposed Water Distribution Network
4. Unit Head Loss Distribution in the Proposed Water Distribution Network
5. Generic Water Supply System Layout for the Proposed Residential
Development
6. CAD Layout of the Proposed Residential Water Network
7. Water Distribution Network Simulation Layout Developed in EPANET 2.2
8. Ground Elevation Profile of the Proposed Residential Water Distribution
Network
9. Base Demand Distribution Across the Proposed Residential Water Network
10. Pipe Length Layout of the Proposed Water Distribution System
11. Pipe Diameter Distribution Map for the Proposed Water Distribution Network
4
, 1.0 Introduction
A reliable water distribution system is essential for supplying safe drinking water from
treatment plants or other water sources to consumers through a network of reservoirs,
pumps, pipelines, valves and household connections. These systems are designed to
provide sufficient water quantity, adequate pressure and acceptable water quality
while meeting the daily and future demands of the community. Water storage
reservoirs play a critical role by balancing fluctuations between water production and
consumer demand, maintaining system pressure, providing emergency storage and
ensuring continuous water supply during maintenance or unexpected interruptions.1
Many developing communities in South Africa continue to experience water supply
challenges caused by rapid population growth, ageing infrastructure, inadequate
storage facilities, high water losses and insufficient reticulation networks. These
challenges often result in unreliable water supply, low operating pressures and limited
household water connections, affecting public health and socio-economic
development. Sustainable water distribution systems must therefore be designed to
improve service delivery while allowing for future expansion and efficient system
operation.2
This project focuses on the proposed residential development located near
Ekujabuleni Primary School in Ulundi Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. The study
area represents a typical developing settlement where the provision of a reliable
municipal water distribution system is required to support existing residents and
accommodate future population growth.
The purpose of this project is to develop a complete engineered water distribution
system capable of supplying potable water to the selected households. The proposed
design will include a water source connection, pump station, transmission pipeline,
storage reservoir and reticulation network with appropriate valves and household
service connections. Hydraulic calculations will be performed to determine water
1 American Water Works Association. (2017). M32: Computer modeling of water distribution systems
(3rd ed.). American Water Works Association.
2 Department of Water and Sanitation. (2018). National Water and Sanitation Master Plan: Volume 1—
Call to Action. Pretoria, South Africa.
5
Assessment 2 (Project)
Year 2026
0027 68 628 1800
1
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 5
2.0 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 7
3.0 Literature Review ............................................................................................... 9
3.1 Critical Evaluation of the Water Supply Problem ............................................... 9
3.2 Design Period ................................................................................................. 10
3.3 Unit Water Demand ........................................................................................ 11
3.4 Design Principles of Water Distribution Systems ............................................ 11
3.5 Evaluation of Distribution Network Configurations .......................................... 12
3.5.1 Dead-End System ..................................................................................... 12
3.5.2 Radial System........................................................................................... 12
3.5.3 Grid Iron System ....................................................................................... 12
3.5.4 Ring System ............................................................................................. 12
3.6 Review of Current Water Distribution Technologies ........................................ 13
3.7 Socioeconomic and Environmental Considerations ........................................ 14
3.8 Design Methodology ....................................................................................... 14
4.0 Design Calculations, Simulations and Specifications .................................. 16
4.1 Design Assumptions ....................................................................................... 16
4.2 Population Projection ...................................................................................... 16
4.3 Average Daily Demand (ADD) ........................................................................ 16
4.4 Maximum Daily Demand (MDD) ..................................................................... 17
4.5 Peak Hour Demand (PHD).............................................................................. 17
4.6 Non – Revenue Water (NRW)......................................................................... 17
4.7 Reservoir Design ............................................................................................ 17
4.8 Pump Flow ...................................................................................................... 18
4.9 Transmission Main .......................................................................................... 18
4.10 Distribution pipes .......................................................................................... 18
2
, 4.11 Valve Schedule ............................................................................................. 19
4.12 Engineering Specifications ............................................................................ 19
4.13 EPANET Hydraulic Simulation ...................................................................... 20
4.13.1 Design Steps .......................................................................................... 20
4.13.2 Pressure Results .................................................................................... 21
4.13.3 Velocity Results ...................................................................................... 22
4.13.4 Head Loss Results .................................................................................. 23
5.0 Water Supply Network Design Layout, CAD Layout and Simulation Layout
24
5.1 Generic Water Supply System Layout ............................................................ 24
5.2 Detailed CAD Layout....................................................................................... 25
5.3 EPANET Simulation Layout ............................................................................ 26
6.0 Overall Discussion and Recommendations ................................................... 29
6.1 Overall Discussion .......................................................................................... 29
6.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................... 30
7.0 References ........................................................................................................ 31
8.0 Appendix ........................................................................................................... 32
3
,List of Figures
1. Proposed new stands near Ekujabuleni Primary School
2. Hydraulic Pressure Distribution of the Proposed Water Distribution Network
3. Flow Velocity Map of the Proposed Water Distribution Network
4. Unit Head Loss Distribution in the Proposed Water Distribution Network
5. Generic Water Supply System Layout for the Proposed Residential
Development
6. CAD Layout of the Proposed Residential Water Network
7. Water Distribution Network Simulation Layout Developed in EPANET 2.2
8. Ground Elevation Profile of the Proposed Residential Water Distribution
Network
9. Base Demand Distribution Across the Proposed Residential Water Network
10. Pipe Length Layout of the Proposed Water Distribution System
11. Pipe Diameter Distribution Map for the Proposed Water Distribution Network
4
, 1.0 Introduction
A reliable water distribution system is essential for supplying safe drinking water from
treatment plants or other water sources to consumers through a network of reservoirs,
pumps, pipelines, valves and household connections. These systems are designed to
provide sufficient water quantity, adequate pressure and acceptable water quality
while meeting the daily and future demands of the community. Water storage
reservoirs play a critical role by balancing fluctuations between water production and
consumer demand, maintaining system pressure, providing emergency storage and
ensuring continuous water supply during maintenance or unexpected interruptions.1
Many developing communities in South Africa continue to experience water supply
challenges caused by rapid population growth, ageing infrastructure, inadequate
storage facilities, high water losses and insufficient reticulation networks. These
challenges often result in unreliable water supply, low operating pressures and limited
household water connections, affecting public health and socio-economic
development. Sustainable water distribution systems must therefore be designed to
improve service delivery while allowing for future expansion and efficient system
operation.2
This project focuses on the proposed residential development located near
Ekujabuleni Primary School in Ulundi Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. The study
area represents a typical developing settlement where the provision of a reliable
municipal water distribution system is required to support existing residents and
accommodate future population growth.
The purpose of this project is to develop a complete engineered water distribution
system capable of supplying potable water to the selected households. The proposed
design will include a water source connection, pump station, transmission pipeline,
storage reservoir and reticulation network with appropriate valves and household
service connections. Hydraulic calculations will be performed to determine water
1 American Water Works Association. (2017). M32: Computer modeling of water distribution systems
(3rd ed.). American Water Works Association.
2 Department of Water and Sanitation. (2018). National Water and Sanitation Master Plan: Volume 1—
Call to Action. Pretoria, South Africa.
5
