This paper discusses an effort by Jackson Energy Authority in Jackson, Tennessee to update their water master plan and
existing steady-state WaterCAD hydraulic model. The hydraulic model update and water system
master plan included the following tasks:
disaggregate water demands using geographic information system (GIS) and historical billing data;
enhance the existing Steady-State WaterCAD model to an Extended Period Simulation
model, and calibrate it to field data;
determine the best hydraulic location for a new water treatment plant and recommend
piping improvements to meet future industrial growth;
provide operational solutions to challenged areas in the system, in order to save money
on operation costs, (a pump station was eliminated, which resulted in
significant savings per month in electrical costs alone); and,
provide the utility with a tool to experiment with their water system. For example, a
unidirectional flushing program could be developed using the hydraulic water model.
The calibrated model allowed for Jackson Energy Authority to make informed decisions about
the future of the water system. Furthermore, as the water system continues to grow and change,
the model can be updated to show the effects of these changes.