Water sustainability software

MWH Soft is including vanguard carbon calculation capabilities in all its water modelling product lines. Its Sustainability analysis extension will be available in InfoWorks WS, H2ONET Suite, and H2OMAP Water and InfoWater Executive Suites. The tool gives water utilities energy efficiency management capabilities for reducing both power costs and carbon footprints.

A large percentage of energy input to a water distribution system is lost through three key areas: pipe friction (and minor losses at bends and fittings); control valves (eg, pressure reducing and sustaining valves, flow control valves); and the customer tap in maintaining a minimum level of pressure. Tap losses are calculated at the network nodes and include domestic and non-domestic consumption and leakage losses.

The software makes sustainable network design easily accessible and credible. It helps users determine the carbon footprint for pumps and the cumulative total energy lost across all elements in the network, from source to consumer tap. A comprehensive visualisation tool colour-codes these elements based on their total environmental impact. Users can also easily compare multiple network reconfiguration alternatives, rank networks from least to most efficient, pinpoint areas with the greatest potential for improvement, and instantly identify potential for pumped/pressure-reducing valve (PRV) optimisation as well as future energy recovery.

The Water Sustainability extension for InfoWorks WS, H2ONET Suite, and H2OMAP Water and InfoWater Executive Suites will be available worldwide by subscription in December 2009.