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GIS for Water Maximizing the Benefits of GIS

Susan Ancel - Director Water Distribution and Transmission

EPCOR Water Services Inc.

Geospatial World Forum – Preconference Seminar

May 2013, Rotterdam

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Presentation Overview

■ EPCOR Overview

■ History of GIS – EPCOR Water

■ GIS Strategic Plan Principles

■ Infrastructure Renewal

■ Water Consumption Analysis – Rate Design

■ Transmission Main Renewal Prioritization

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EPCOR Background

Wholly-owned subsidiaries build, own and operate electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure

Selected as Alberta’s Best Overall Workplace for companies with more than 750 employees

Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada2700 Employees in TotalMore than 1000 Employees in Water

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EPCOR Background

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EPCOR Water – Edmonton Statistics

Waterlines = 3,700 kms Hydrants = 18,000 Valves = 54,000 Depth of Bury = 2.8meters

Population Served = 1 million Service Connections = 240,000 Average Demand = 340 MLD Maximum Demand = 550 MLD

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GIS History – EPCOR Water1978 1980 1990 19951985 2000 2005 2008

GeoEdmonton Alliance Established

2013

3rd GenerationDatabase CentricIntegrates GIS & WMS

1St GenerationCAD Based AM/FM

Renewal Candidate Selection Tool Built

ADAPT Tool Built

Network Field Link (Webtools)

All Mains Hydraulic Model Built

Field Computers Deployed

2nd GenerationCAD & Database Based, Analysis ToolsSome WMS Tools

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GIS Strategic Plan Principles■ GIS Technology will Improve Water Service’s

Efficiency or Effectiveness■ Accurate Information should be Available to the

Users when they need it, where they need it and in a format that meets their needs

• Data Stewardship is a key enabler • Desired outcomes are not just automation but also business process

improvement• Success requires a combination of appropriate technology and trained users

with a focus on supporting the decision process vs. creation of maps

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Overall System Architecture

WALRUSOracle Spatial

DataRecording

Tools

HydraulicModelsSynergee

WorkManagementSystem - IVARA

ThematicMappingMapInfo

Speciality Queries And Reports

CAD Tools

Microstation

Input

Network Field LinkeSpatial

address, AppNOs

Input

GeoEdmontonAlliance DataUtilities, parcels etc

Input

Customer InformationSystem

Service lines

Input

GeoEdmontonAlliance Data

WALRUS – Water And Land Related Utility System

Users can access same information via four interfacesdepending on their need – Microstation, MapInfo, IVARA or NFL

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Infrastructure Program Drivers

REMAINING LENGTH AND BREAKSCAST IRON WATER MAINS

0100200300400500600700800900

100011001200130014001500160017001800

1952

1954

1956

1958

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

YEARS

LEN

GTH

(km

) and

AN

NU

AL

BR

EAK

S

KILOMETRES OF CAST IRON PIPE

BREAKS

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Infrastructure Renewal Program History1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Present

Distribution Cathodic Protection Program

Reactive Water Main Renewal Program

Proactive Renewal Program

Water Main Lining Program

AC/PVC Valve Program

All Mains Hydraulic Modeling

Neighbourhood Improvement Programs

2010

Accelerated Program

Current Annual Capital BudgetFor Water Main Programs Approximately $40Million/year

Total spent since 1985 - $500 Million

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RPV – Candidate SelectionReactive \ Cathodic Protection \ Accelerated \ Neighbourhood Programs

Candidates Selected Based on RPV

Reactive Renewal – RPV>5

Cathodic Protection – RPV 0.5 <> 1.0

Neighbourhood Program – RPV > 3 and other Utility work planned in same alignment

Accelerated Program – Single Break in last five years and City Paving project planned

RPV = Replacement Priority ValueTotal Number of Main Breaks over 5 years Divided byTotal Length of Pipe Between Valves

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Water Main Lining \ Valve & Hydrant Replacements

Water Main LiningGIS to plan construction • number of hydrants out of services• road access impacted • number of customers on

temporary water

Valve & Hydrant• Program to renew valves corroding on the

non-metallic pipes and replace obsolete hydrants

• Renewal to occur prior to other planned construction or maintenance work

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Hydraulic Modeling Requires robust GIS

Critical aspect of selecting candidates for renewal

Also used to assess impact during construction due to components being out of service

Evaluates delivery pressures and fire fighting capacities

Also used for Energy usage analysis to determine inefficiencies in pumping and distribution of water

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Water Consumption Analysis – Rates Design

Summer Winter

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Current Initiatives – Transmission Main Renewal Prioritization

■ Reviewing All Transmission Activities:■ Rehabilitation■ Cathodic protection■ Replacement

■ Assessing Hydraulic Needs for Pipes considering changing network configuration

■ Criticality Assessments – Using Genetic Algorithms■ Risk Ranking of Each Stretch of Transmission Main –

(based on materials, road types, customer impacts, hydraulic constraints)

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Thank you for your time

Questions?