Analysis of drinking water distribution networks using dead end system and hydraulic comparison with epanet 2.0 software: Case studies of Adana province, Turkiye

Rapid population growth and decreasing water resources have made accurate and effective design of water distribution network compulsory. It is a fact that available networks mostly need to be improved to provide adequate and quality water. In addition to engineering solutions handled with traditional approaches, modeling via different software can make significant contributions to achieving optimum results in terms of hydraulic and cost-benefit analyzes of these networks. In this study, it aims to compare the results of the Dead End System (DES), a classical method, and EPANET 2.0 program, an open source software. Camuzağılı, Gazi and Başpınar Neighborhoods of Adana, which have different population and topographic characteristics, have been chosen as the study area. Comparison parameters are pressure, velocity and head loss. With the obtained results; the values of node and junction points, 24-hour change of these parameters and correlation graphs were created. As a result of the study, it is seen that the pressure data for all three networks have a well enough correlation, and the highest R2 values in terms of velocity and head loss were obtained in the networks of Camuzağılı and Başpınar Neighborhoods. In particular, for the Gazi Neighborhood network, the most negative outcome occurred considering the convergence of the two method outputs. It has been determined that the network results of Başpınar Neighborhood produced R2 above 90% with regards to all parameters. In the following years, simulation works for all water distribution networks in this region, will contribute considerably to effective water resources management policies.