Hydraulic Performance and Optimal Siting of Service Reservoirs in the Ilorin Water Distribution System

Abstract

This paper presents the evaluation of the hydraulic performance of Ilorin metropolitan water distribution system with the aim to determine the optimal locations of service reservoirs and nodal pressures for improve water supply. In an attempt to improve the water services in Ilorin, the Kwara State Government proposed the construction of additional service reservoirs at different locations within the metropolis. The GIS was used to provide georeferenced locations of pipes, nodes, reservoirs, while the Hydraulic conditions were performed with EPANET 2.2 software in order to determine the output pressure at demand nodes for various scenarios under consideration. Ten cases were considered using the location of the service reservoirs and the quantity of water distribution to the study area. The pressure distribution at the nodes were determined for the ten cases. The minimum and the maximum nodal pressures obtained were 10 m and 84 m respectively based on case IV. These are favorably comparable with the recommended values for satisfactory performance. Case IV has the highest percentage number of nodes pressure that fall between 25 m and 84 m. About 20% of the nodes have pressure below 25 m and none above 84 m. This will rule out the possibility of pipe bursting as a result of excessive pressure in the pipeline. Hence Case IV has the optimal nodal pressure distribution and can be concluded that the study provide a suitable model for appropriate location of the service reservoirs based on pressure requirement at demand nodes.