BEST (OR FREE) POTABLE WATER SYSTEM MODELING SOFTWARE?

[Emil's Dad]

Hi - was just wondering what folks were using these days for water modeling software? Any luck with EPANET? I have had some experience with Innovyze, but would like
to use EPANET as it's open-source and appears widely used - would appreciate any feedback - thanks! - Mike * for a project in Arizona

 

[coloeng]

I have used EPANET a few times, but it's been a few years. I doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some modeling software has, but it will get the job done.

 

[Emil's Dad]

thanks so much for that - do you recall which version you used? is there a decent manual or "help" button? or do you know of any affordable private sector options? thanks again - Mike

 

[fel3]

I use EPANET several times each year. The most recent version available through the Enviornmental Protection Agency is 2.2.0 (see https://www.epa.gov/water-research/epanet). You can find information about the proposed (but apparently stalled) open source project to enhance EPANET here: https://github.com/USEPA/EPANET2.2. FYI, EPANET is the calculating engine behind some of the commercial software programs.

As coloeng says, EPANET "doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some modeling software has, but it will get the job done." EPANET's interface is pretty basic and the program lacks the ability to handle multiple scenarios in one file, although there are workarounds. For example, the extended period simulation (EPS) feature can be used to move fire flows around a system for multiple static runs within one model. In this case, time is irrelevant. I have posted on this technique before.

 

[Emil's Dad]

great - thanks so much for the info - very helpful! - Mike

* just downloaded 2.2 & manual - taking a look at tutorials now ...

 

[swazimatt]

EPAnet will do just about everything you need. There are multiple youtube videos to help but it can be very frustrating untill you work out a good process to avoid getting errors and to avoid making mistakes.
I believe a lot of the paid software uses EPAnet as the engine for the calcs (this is quite obvious on some of the cheaper software i have used with the wording they use)