Rebuilding Glencorse strategic hydraulic model for Scottish Water

The Challenge

Glencorse Water Operational Area (WOA), supplying the Edinburgh region, had encountered a large number of burst incidents around the Alnwickhill area of the city, which accelerated the need for, and stakeholder interest in, an updated hydraulic model of the network. However, there were a number of issues that needed addressing during the model build process including: network configurations queries, metering issues and field-testing difficulties in the centre of a large, busy city.

The goal of this study was the construction, field test and calibration of a strategic network model of the Glencorse Water Operational Area (WOA). The model represents the trunk main network supplying the Edinburgh area from Glencorse WTW. In addition, 10 District Metered Areas (DMAs) and Super DMAs were included as part of the model due to either their strategic importance, existing metering issues within the DMAs or DMA breaches.

The Solution

The Glencorse WOA strategic model was a flagship model re-build project with the requirement for a calibrated model to be produced as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Calibration of the hydraulic model was problematic due to a series of queries over the network configuration in a number of areas, as well as the lack of metering on certain strategic mains and at some operational sites. However, these issues were overcome with a combination of calibration techniques and collaboration with the client modelling and leakage teams.

Our team undertook all aspects of the re-build of the Glencorse WOA Strategic model, including model construction, field test planning and delivery, DMA and Super DMA demand analysis and trunk main balances, reservoir balances, model calibration and delivery of a final report.