Have your say! Send your exciting news to
info@draintraderltd.com
pipe diameter and length for cost estimating. Scenario analysis and comparison using WaterGEMS allowed us to find an option with the lowest NPV (at 4 percent) over 50 years.”
Hamer concluded: “This process has allowed us to be confident that we have selected an option that will provide the best ‘bang for our buck’ while delivering adequate levels of service to the customer.”
Increased Return on Investments
Once the system improvements are complete, MidCoast Water will see reduced ongoing operational and maintenance (O&M) costs due to the decrease in energy requirements. Annual O&M costs are predicted to decrease by over 75 percent. Over 50 years, system improvements will reduce the NPV of O&M costs by over 80 percent (mainly due to reduced energy costs, but also due to reduced pump maintenance and main breaks). The volume of water storage in the system will also increase, which augments the secure yield of the supply system.
Reduced Time and Cost of Project Delivery
Using WaterGEMS to analyze and compare over 100 scenarios greatly reduced the time for the investigation, option selection, and concept design stage of the project from months to a matter of weeks. In addition, using WaterGEMS enabled MidCoast Water to reduce the cost of delivering the project by significantly reducing the time to complete the concept stage. The cost of the concept works was AUD 15,700, and may have been as high as AUD 95,000 if the options analysis had been done manually.
required more PRVs (due to the number of pressure zones within the system) and so had higher ongoing energy costs and carbon emissions, due to the increased energy required to pump water up to the reservoir. The WaterGEMS Scenario Comparison feature helped MidCoast Water find the right balance between energy use and number of reservoirs.
Using the information from the hydraulic model allowed MidCoast Water to select a sustainable solution based on modeled pressures experienced by the customer, pipe velocities, capital costs, and ongoing operational and maintenance costs, including energy costs.
Selection Process of the Optimal Solution
The options that were assessed require an initial outlay of AUD 7 to 10 million, except for the existing system that would require a smaller outlay to fix existing reservoirs. The solution MidCoast Water chose involves constructing two new reservoirs to replace the three inadequate reservoirs, and constructing new mains to connect the new reservoirs to the water treatment plant and the existing distribution system. This option also includes decommissioning six out of seven booster pump stations, installing one PRV, and upgrading some pipes.
Hamer explained: “The scenario analysis undertaken in WaterGEMS allowed us to identify and test several options that meet the project objectives. A net present value (NPV) analysis was then undertaken to compare all feasible options. This analysis was performed outside of WaterGEMS but utilized information from the hydraulic models such as scenario energy use and
Project Summary Organization: MidCoast Water Solution: Water and Wastewater Location: Gloucester, New South Wales, Australia Project Objective: Design and construct an improved water system for Gloucester that:
• Meets levels of service and ensures that residents experience adequate, reliable water pressure.
• Has lower operations and maintenance costs than the existing system. Products used: WaterGEMS
Fast Facts • Gloucester residents were experiencing pressure fluctuations and the water supply system relied entirely on booster pumps.
• MidCoast Water assessed over 100 what-if scenarios in WaterGEMS to optioneer a solution.
• The optimal selected solution will increase service levels, while decommissioning most of the pumps and reducing operations and maintenance costs.
ROI
• Capital investments: The selected optimal solution has the lowest net present value (at 4 percent) over 50 years. This is AUD 300,000 lower than the status quo option.
• Operations and maintenance costs: Annual costs will be reduced by over 75 percent.
• Project delivery: Using WaterGEMS, MidCoast Water saved as much as AUD 79,300 in concept work costs.
“Using information from the WaterGEMS model has allowed MidCoast Water to select a sustainable, optimized water distribution strategy for the Gloucester water network, which will transform the customer experience and ensure that levels of service are met, now and into the future.”
– Tracey Hamer, Planning Engineer, MidCoast Water follow us on twitter @draintrader | September 2015 | drain TRADER 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
