Water providers are continually challenged with providing the public with a dependable source of safe water for the demands of everyday life. Informed decision making and smart planning are essential to the successful operation of a water distribution system, including:

•  Maintaining reliable supply sources to meet the demands of existing users.

•  Securing new sources of supply for future growth or redevelopment.

•  Providing operational, fire, and emergency storage to ensure community safety.

•  Optimizing the operation of the existing facilities to control costs.

•  Complying with water quality regulations.

•  Identifying a capital improvement program (CIP) that balances the needs for improvement with current budgetary constraints.

Carollo Engineers’ comprehensive approach to meet these challenges has made us a leader in water distribution system master planning. We develop a thorough understanding of the unique challenges faced by each community and create a plan that serves as a “road map” for long-term, reliable, and cost-efficient operation.
Master plans are an important tool in sizing distribution system expansions to meet the demands of existing and future customers. In some cases, the timing and composition of future development is uncertain. Our staff helps clients evaluate developing areas and implement realistically-phased improvements that meet user needs and annual budgetary constraints.

We use the latest local, regional, and census data to plan practical growth targets and identify realistic capital improvements.

Integrating Hydraulic Modeling with GIS Computer hydraulic modeling is a vital tool for understanding the operation of a water distribution system, identifying hydraulic deficiencies, simulating water quality conditions, and recommending hydraulic and water quality enhancements. Carollo’s proven approach of integrating computer models with geographical information systems (GIS) allows us to quickly analyze a system under a variety of demand conditions and water quality parameters. We efficiently construct and analyze distribution systems using a wide variety of state-of-the-art software packages and provide on-site training to help our clients quickly and efficiently use the models we develop.

Carollo uses water quality modeling to help our clients better understand how water flows throughout their distribution systems, and to identify any potential areas of concern. For example, we use simulated tracer studies to assess how groundwater and surface water sources blend in the distribution system, and determine the potential for water quality issues such as taste and odor and low chlorine residual that may result within the blend areas. We use similar techniques to assess daily and seasonal distribution system flow patterns to identify low flow or “dead zones” where water can age, and potentially lead to localized water quality problems such as nitrification, resulting in regulatory non-compliance. Using our model analyses, we can better identify potential upgrades to improve water flow in all areas of the system and determine optimal water quality monitoring sites, enabling purveyors to deliver the highest quality of water possible to their customers.
Emergency supply, fire protection, and effective system operation all rely on adequate water storage. Our experience shows that water system managers can often achieve more cost-effective operation by pumping during “off peak” periods when electricity costs are lower. We model daily and seasonal demand scenarios to identify the best combination of pumping strategies from supply wells and/or booster stations based on the available system storage. The result of these analyses is an operational plan that reduces ongoing operational (electricity) costs while making the best use of existing infrastructure.
Effective communication between client and consultant is essential for a successful project. At Carollo, we understand the benefits of listening to our clients and we incorporate this philosophy into every project that we manage. Our project managers strive to capitalize on the experience of the management and field personnel responsible for distribution system maintenance. This process helps us obtain a high level of “buy-in” from stakeholders when we deliver the final master plan.
Carollo has a long successful history in water distribution system master planning. We have completed over 100 water system master plans in the last 15 years. Recent examples are summarized below:

City of Phoenix, Arizona – Carollo's comprehensive system-wide master plan for Phoenix encompassed over 500 square miles served by several water sources. An update to the year 2050 extended the service area to 650 square miles and included evaluating long-range water resources, developing a land-use-based demand generator, developing infrastructure to meet future demands, and preparing a CIP.

California Department of Corrections – Carollo performed a water quality analysis, corrosion assessment, and internal plumbing evaluation for California Men’s Colony and Camp San Luis Obispo. Work involved analyzing the quality of groundwater produced by existing wells, recommending improvements, and determining costs for the CIP.

City of Hailey, Idaho – Faced with growth in excess of 7 percent for several years, Hailey needed to plan significant upgrades to its water system facilities. Carollo calibrated Hailey’s existing hydraulic model and updated its Water System Master Plan.

City of Anaheim, California – Carollo analyzed disinfection residuals in Anaheim’s water distribution system to determine an appropriate method of disinfection for a mixed system consisting of three different water sources. Work included a regulations review, use of H2ONET modeling software to determine the potential impacts of proposed disinfection alternatives.

City of Palo Alto, California – Carollo evaluated and developed recommendations for Palo Alto’s water wells, reservoir storage, and distribution system. Work included updating/calibrating the water system model for water quality and water age modeling, developing and modeling emergency supply scenarios, and assessing distribution system water quality impacts resulting from the conversion to chloramines.

Other recent or ongoing water system master planning studies include those for Lewiston, Idaho; Olathe, Kansas; Havre, Montana; Ashland, Oregon; as well as other communities throughout the U.S.