EPANETs

EPANET is a free public domain software tool that models the water distribution network of a water utility. It is developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Water Supply and Watershed Branch. EPANET performs hydraulic and water quality modeling for pressurized pipe networks. It can compute the following: the distribution of flow and pressure throughout the network, the amount of water lost or gained, and the age of water, as well as the concentration of contaminants, as they are transported through the system.

The software allows users to simulate the behavior of a water distribution system under various conditions. This includes analyzing the effects of changes in demand, pump operations, and valve settings. EPANET can also model the transport and mixing of contaminants, such as chlorine, within the network, which is crucial for assessing water quality and emergency response planning. The program uses a time-step simulation approach to account for changing conditions over time.

EPANET's primary applications include system design and analysis, water quality investigations, and operational planning. It is widely used by water utilities, consultants, researchers, and students for understanding and managing water distribution systems. The software requires input data that describes the network topology, pipe characteristics, pump curves, tank levels, and water demands. The output includes graphical representations of the system, tables of results, and various reports. EPANET is a powerful tool for optimizing the performance, reliability, and safety of water distribution networks.