Water Infrastructure and Resource
Management
Project
Year 2026
0027 68 628 1800
1
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Schematic layout of the Ulundi WTP Supply System ................................................................5
3.0 Water Demand Analysis ....................................................................................................................6
3.1 Demand Allocation Methodology ....................................................................................................6
3.2 Design Parameters ...........................................................................................................................6
3.3 Average Day Demand Allocation ....................................................................................................7
3.4 Water Demand Calculations ............................................................................................................7
4.0 Model setup ..........................................................................................................................................8
5.0 Pipe Network Simulation and Hydraulic Analysis ....................................................................16
5.1 Hydraulic Simulation .......................................................................................................................16
5.2 Network Maps ..................................................................................................................................16
5.3 Peak-Hour Simulation Analysis .....................................................................................................19
6.0 Model Performance Evaluation......................................................................................................21
6.1 Reservoir Storage Competency Analysis ....................................................................................21
6.2 Hydraulic Performance Evaluation ...............................................................................................22
6.3 Peak-Hour Simulation Analysis .....................................................................................................22
7.0 Results Analysis ................................................................................................................................24
7.1 Water Demand Analysis .................................................................................................................24
7.2 Pump Station Operation and Reservoir Performance Analysis ...............................................24
8.0 Discussion ..........................................................................................................................................26
9.0 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................................28
10.0 References ........................................................................................................................................29
2
, 1.0 Introduction
Water distribution systems are fundamental components of municipal infrastructure,
ensuring that treated water is conveyed from treatment facilities to consumers at
adequate pressures and quantities while maintaining acceptable water quality
standards. 1 The planning and hydraulic analysis of these systems require the
integration of engineering principles, demand forecasting and computer-based
simulation tools to ensure reliable and sustainable operation.2
The Nkonjeni Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme (RBWSS) is a major bulk water
infrastructure system serving communities within the Zululand District Municipality in
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The scheme abstracts raw water from the White Mfolozi
River and Nkonjeni Dam, treats it at the Ulundi Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the
Nkonjeni Package Plant, and distributes potable water through an interconnected
network of reservoirs, pump stations and pipelines to Ulundi, Mashona, Mahlabathini,
Nkonjeni and surrounding communities. The project specification identifies these
facilities as the primary water sources for the hydraulic model developed in EPANET
Version 2.2.
Hydraulic modelling provides engineers with a practical method of evaluating the
performance of water distribution systems under different operating conditions,
enabling the assessment of pressures, velocities, head losses, storage behaviour and
pump performance before physical modifications are implemented.3 EPANET is one
of the most widely used hydraulic modelling packages and is capable of performing
both steady-state and extended period simulations for complex water distribution
networks.4
The objective of this project is to develop and analyse an EPANET model of the
Nkonjeni RBWSS in accordance with the project requirements. The model
1
Mays, L.W., 2011. Water Resources Engineering. 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
2
Rossman, L.A., 2020. EPANET 2.2 User Manual. Cincinnati: United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
3
Walski, T.M., Chase, D.V., Savic, D.A., Grayman, W., Beckwith, S. and Koelle, E., 2003. Advanced Water
Distribution Modeling and Management. Haestad Press.
4
Rossman, L.A., 2020. EPANET 2.2 User Manual. Cincinnati: United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
3
Management
Project
Year 2026
0027 68 628 1800
1
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Schematic layout of the Ulundi WTP Supply System ................................................................5
3.0 Water Demand Analysis ....................................................................................................................6
3.1 Demand Allocation Methodology ....................................................................................................6
3.2 Design Parameters ...........................................................................................................................6
3.3 Average Day Demand Allocation ....................................................................................................7
3.4 Water Demand Calculations ............................................................................................................7
4.0 Model setup ..........................................................................................................................................8
5.0 Pipe Network Simulation and Hydraulic Analysis ....................................................................16
5.1 Hydraulic Simulation .......................................................................................................................16
5.2 Network Maps ..................................................................................................................................16
5.3 Peak-Hour Simulation Analysis .....................................................................................................19
6.0 Model Performance Evaluation......................................................................................................21
6.1 Reservoir Storage Competency Analysis ....................................................................................21
6.2 Hydraulic Performance Evaluation ...............................................................................................22
6.3 Peak-Hour Simulation Analysis .....................................................................................................22
7.0 Results Analysis ................................................................................................................................24
7.1 Water Demand Analysis .................................................................................................................24
7.2 Pump Station Operation and Reservoir Performance Analysis ...............................................24
8.0 Discussion ..........................................................................................................................................26
9.0 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................................28
10.0 References ........................................................................................................................................29
2
, 1.0 Introduction
Water distribution systems are fundamental components of municipal infrastructure,
ensuring that treated water is conveyed from treatment facilities to consumers at
adequate pressures and quantities while maintaining acceptable water quality
standards. 1 The planning and hydraulic analysis of these systems require the
integration of engineering principles, demand forecasting and computer-based
simulation tools to ensure reliable and sustainable operation.2
The Nkonjeni Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme (RBWSS) is a major bulk water
infrastructure system serving communities within the Zululand District Municipality in
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The scheme abstracts raw water from the White Mfolozi
River and Nkonjeni Dam, treats it at the Ulundi Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the
Nkonjeni Package Plant, and distributes potable water through an interconnected
network of reservoirs, pump stations and pipelines to Ulundi, Mashona, Mahlabathini,
Nkonjeni and surrounding communities. The project specification identifies these
facilities as the primary water sources for the hydraulic model developed in EPANET
Version 2.2.
Hydraulic modelling provides engineers with a practical method of evaluating the
performance of water distribution systems under different operating conditions,
enabling the assessment of pressures, velocities, head losses, storage behaviour and
pump performance before physical modifications are implemented.3 EPANET is one
of the most widely used hydraulic modelling packages and is capable of performing
both steady-state and extended period simulations for complex water distribution
networks.4
The objective of this project is to develop and analyse an EPANET model of the
Nkonjeni RBWSS in accordance with the project requirements. The model
1
Mays, L.W., 2011. Water Resources Engineering. 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
2
Rossman, L.A., 2020. EPANET 2.2 User Manual. Cincinnati: United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
3
Walski, T.M., Chase, D.V., Savic, D.A., Grayman, W., Beckwith, S. and Koelle, E., 2003. Advanced Water
Distribution Modeling and Management. Haestad Press.
4
Rossman, L.A., 2020. EPANET 2.2 User Manual. Cincinnati: United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
3
