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WATER DEMAND ALLOCATION AND SUPPLY

CHARACTERISTICS FOR AN POPULATED
URBAN AREA LIKE DHAKA CITY
Conference Paper December 2014

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ID: WRE 063

2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 2014 (ICACE-2014)

26 28 December, 2014
CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh

WATER DEMAND ALLOCATION AND SUPPLY CHARACTERISTICS FOR

AN POPULATED URBAN AREA LIKE DHAKA CITY

S.A. Sayeed1 S. Hossain.2 N. Sharmin3

1

202/1/3, North Shamoli, Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Junior Engineer, Institute of Water Modelling, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1206, Email: shlitonbuet@gmail.com
3
House #96, Road # 4, Mohammadi Housing Limited, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207,Bangladesh
*Corresponding Author: saffat.sora@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Dhaka is the most densely populated city in the world which need huge amount of water daily.
Population and economic growth are increasing the demand for water, while climate change, pollution
and over extraction of groundwater are decreasing the Dhakas supply of fresh water. While
technological and proper management reforms can increase supply, allocation for sustainable
development calls for water conservation. This paper explores the potential of residential water
allocation in Dhaka using proper water demand estimation. Primary data collected from DMA 315
(Dhanmondi Zone) in Dhaka reflects that on average households spend 1.15 percent of their monthly
expenditures on water bills with a median of Tk. 350/month (USD 4.40/month). A typical household
of 4-6 people living consumes about 2000 litres/day. Under this scenario, more accurate pricing
through 100 percent metering, implementation of regulations and accurate calculations are necessary
to promote domestic water demand allocation. The increased reliance on demand-side management
policies as an urban water consumption management tool has stimulated considerable debate among
Engineers, water utility managers, regulators, consumer interest groups and policymakers. In turn, this
has fostered an increasing volume of literature aimed at providing best-practice estimates of price and
income elasticity, quantifying the impact of non-price water restrictions and gauging the impact of
non-discretionary environmental factors affecting residential water demand. This paper provides an
empirical residential water demand analyses conducted in the next 20 years. Both model specification
and estimation and the outcomes of the analyses are discussed. To assess the potential for urban
demand side management, we analyse the extent of residential demand and their distributional
implications by type of household. Using detailed household-level panel data for DMA 315, the
results suggest that the ultimate effects of reduction in aggregate demand and distribution of water
savings among household classes depend both on the policy instrument selected and the composition
of aggregate demand. Water demand in the Dhaka was simulated to year 2030 for two scenarios.
Keywords: Water Demand, Water Supply, Urban water management.

INTRODUCTION
The underground water level of the mega city Dhaka is decreasing in such a high rate that the water
level may reach to a hazardous position in future. Importance has not yet been given in this vicinity
even in geo-environmental research. The scope of this particular research provided a prospectus for
proper and quality water supply, demand allocation and distribution system of Dhaka City on the
basis of those important issues mentioned above. Besides other research work on Dhaka, this research
also suggested careful monitoring especially the problems like ground depression, water logging of
flood water and scarcity of water supply.

OBJECTIVES
The prime goal of the design of this water supply distribution system of study area is to satisfy
consumer needs providing with reliable, continuous and 24 hour pressurized water supply system as
well as minimizing cost for the implementation and operation of the system. For the rehabilitation of
distribution network of study area, a model was prepared to check the performance of the system for
existing (2013) and future (2030) scenario. Considering the rapidly depleting groundwater level and
keeping consistency with future water supply plan of DWASA, surface water from transmission main
was considered as future source whereas groundwater as existing source. Where transmission main
exists it is considered jointly with groundwater as existing source. Incorporating present and possible
future sources in model, final design was carried out. System was improved by minimizing head
losses in pipes and utilizing the heads provided from sources. In general the design criteria of head
loss gradient (5m/km) as mentioned in the tender document were followed, but for some larger
diameter pipes of smaller length- considerations for cost were given preference over head loss criteria,
as well as in the pumping zone. To minimize the overall construction costs, pipe diameters were
determined keeping consistency as much as possible with the existing pattern of the system. To
overcome the possible risks and uncertainties and ensure improvement of the integrated behaviour of
system, several Inter-DMA Connections with meter chambers were considered. Every meter chamber
was designed to allow water flow in both directions maintaining the required upstream pressure with
the help of Pressure Sustaining Valve (PSV). Experiences of field surveys, effects of recent and
possible future infrastructure development were incorporated in the model to get the best design of the
system. Considering the head loss gradient criteria if possible and understanding implementation
risks, pipes have been downsized to minimize the cost. For optimum operation, the system was
checked for possible segment shut down to minimize the offline areas during maintenance work.
Contingency plans were developed to satisfy consumer needs in the event of a key facility such as
pump station and/or surface water interconnection fails.

LITERATURE REVIEW
DMA is a small discrete area with its own water supply system and distribution network for a
community and isolated from remaining network without affecting supply system of other areas.
Supply source for a DMA may be groundwater (PTW) and/or surface water. Water balance in a DMA
can be accounted from its source capacity and consumption.
Benefits of DMA Concept

up-to-date water balance information

Minimized non-revenue water (NRW).
Easy detection of leakages and illegal connections.
Energy efficient system.
pressurized system
Improved water quality.
Better customer satisfaction.
Turning DWASA into a profitable organization.

Criteria for DMA Concept

Primary Criteria:
Hydraulic Isolation
DMA Size : Neither Too Big Nor Too Small
At Least One Source/PTW
At Least One External Connection for Emergencies
All Connections and Sources must be metered.

Secondary Criteria:
Consideration of Well Defined Roads
Administrative Boundaries
Land Use and Housing Pattern
Future Developments
DMA Features
Most of the distribution pipes within a DMA are to be rehabilitated with new HDPE pipe and the
distribution network of all DMAs will be designed for future. Also the network is designed for surface
water scenario, all the zones are needed to be metered and there will be no illegal connection. In
distribution pipe minimum pressure to be ensured within DMA at all-time is above 10m. Satisfying
minimum pressure, surplus water of a DMA (if any) will be delivered to the transmission line or to
nearby DMAs through inter-DMA pipes where exists negative water balance. The supply source will
eventually shift from groundwater to surface-water.
DMA operations:
Major Control Parameters are
Pump Operation, PSV and/or PRV Operation at Bulk Meter Chamber
Bulk Meter ,Valve Efficiency and Domestic Meter and HC Characteristics

METHODOLOGY
Location of the Study Area

DMA
ID

Area
(sqr m
from
Shp)

Area
(sqr m
from
Access)

% nonnetwork
Pop
2010

% nonnetwork
pop
2030

Population
2010

Population
2030

Demand
2010
(L/s)

Demand
2013
(L/s)

Demand
2030
(L/s)

315

200858

192634

15%

5%

12,808

21,851

42

47

55

Fig 1: The study area of DMA 315 of Dhanmondi area

Total demands will not be revised, but their allocation by junctions will be revised due to increased
changes in geometry. Demands can be allocated to the junctions using various methods. Many
methods are based on observed data, such as billing meters, known flows in certain points of the
network, by land use or by population settled. Since all of this data are not available, other methods
that compile geometry of network will be used. One of these is "proportional distribution by area".
This method divides the lump-sum flow among the service polygons based upon one of two attributes
of the service polygons-the area (in this case a total area). The greater the percentage of the lump-sum
area that a service polygon contains, the greater is the percentage of total flow that will be assigned to
that service polygon.
Other method available which can take into account allocation of residents both horizontally and
vertically is billing meters aggregation. Billing Meter aggregation is the technique of assigning all
meters within a service polygon to a specified demand node. Service polygons define the service area
for each of the demand nodes. Since location and number of existing meters are not known, factious
or virtual meters will be assigned to the buildings. Within every building the number of meters in a
form of node which will be assigned is equal to the number of floors. This will be incorporated in GIS
and imported in model as background layer together with polygon service area which will be
generated using WaterGems "Thiessen polygon" tool. Flow distribution has allocated evenly for every
node (meter).

Figure 2: Demand allocation method

On the figure 2 above, on the left side is the service polygon that closes larger area, and on the right
side is the service polygon that closes smaller area. Dots represent number of the floors within
buildings. On the left side total number of residences is much smaller comparing to the total number
of residences on the right side. Summarizing what is said about both methods, proportional
distribution by area is the method which counts that inside polygon population of consumers has
evenly distributed, and billing meters aggregation is the method which counts that inside polygon
population of consumers are concentrated distributed.
With billing meters method it will be taken horizontal distribution as well as vertical by floors. What
can be the case is, within service polygon in some parts of DMA, it is possible that congregation of
couple of tall buildings can give larger junction demand for the present scenario; while for the same
service polygon distribution by proportional area can provide lesser junction demand. In this reason it
is a bit safe to calculate for present scenario using billing meters aggregation as this method
provides more realistic distribution of demands for current state. Also a small calculation has been
done, for present scenario using both methods and results are showed in chart below. Results marked
with blue columns are BMA (billing meter aggregation) and red are PDA (distribution by proportional
area. It can be seen that pressures within network are larger for the first method.

Figure 3: Comparison in pressures between two methods for demand allocation

We are on safe side if the calculation and dimensioning of the network would be done with methods
that show higher pressures. Therefore for the present scenario billing meters aggregation will be used.
For the future scenario, due to unpredictable conditions in Dhaka and rapidly increasing of
population, it can be taken that inside service polygon population will be evenly distributed, and the
second method, distribution by proportional area will be used. Assigning demands has been done
using Load Builder tool. The Load Builder wizard assists you in the creation of a new load build
template by stepping you through the procedure of creating a new load build template. Depending on
the load build method you choose, the specific steps presented in the wizard will vary. Service area
for every single junction is generated using Water GEMS tool to create Thiessen polygons.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Distribution Networks Model has been prepared & analysed for the different scenarios i.e. In order to
distribute the total demands of DMA 315 to the network, first of all the Theissen Polygon Boundary
has been prepared and the total demands have been distributed through the Thiessen Polygon
generated by using the software. Considering the requirements as the Model, networks pipe sizing
have been improved by giving several trials. In some cases the existing pipes have been increased to
larger diameter and in many cases reduced to smaller diameter on the basis of hydraulic design in
order to achieve the well balanced hydraulic model maintaining the Guaranteed Minimum System
Pressure of 10 m (1 bar). Finally the design model has been tested by doing some sensitivity analysis
e.g. if one PTW is shut-down; if one surface water source becomes inactive; if the peak demands
exceeds the estimated peak factor of 1.25 and goes up to 1.80; if one primary &/or secondary
distribution main is damaged suddenly and overall during the operation and maintenance of the
system a considerable segment lengths has to be closed by operating the isolating valve, etc.

CONCLUSION
The network model of DMA 315 has been designed to fulfil all the requirements according to the
Model as noted below:
All nodal elevations are set at 1 m below the road surface.
Total peak demand for 2013 has been assumed to satisfy for 43.95 L/sec, and peak demand
for 2030 has been assumed to satisfy 55 L/sec.
Head loss gradient in pipeline satisfy the value of 5 m/Km, with some exception for smaller
lengths.

Minimum cover of pipeline is about 1 m in the main road and about 0.6 m along the foot path.
Minimum system pressure has been achieved 10 m (1 bar) at any place of the networks.
Technical system loss should not more than 15%, with some exception in scenarios that are
not primary designed to be conducted.
Water meter installed in the PTW should be checked regularly and note if the production is
less than expected.
Model should be calibrated and updated in future.

ACKNOWLEDHEMENTS
Authors sincerely acknowledge the cooperation and the help of the all staffs of DMC and CME of
ICB 02.6 of DWSSP Project under DWASA.

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