Continuing Professional Development Programme
Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
The Continuing Professional Development Programme at UCT is proud to announce two
short courses on Water Distribution Systems in February 2012
(6 - 8 February 2012) Introduction to Design and Management of Water Distribution Systems
(9 - 10 February 2012) Hydraulic Modelling of Water Distribution Systems using Epanet
Course 1
(6 - 8 February 2012)
Introduction to Design and
Management of Water Distribution
Systems
The aim of this three day short course is to
provide a structured and practical intro-
duction to the design and management of
water distribution systems. The course will
be based on the highly regarded text book
“Introduction to Urban Water Distribution” by
Dr. Nemanja Trifunovic of UNESCO-IHE.
Delegates will receive a copy of the 500 page
book (selling locally at R2000 a copy).
Course 1
Course 2
Course Content
• Objectives and components of water
distribution systems.
• Water demand: categories, patterns,
calculation and forecasting.
•H
 ydraulics: Basic equations, single,
branched and looped networks, system-
and pump characteristics, pressure related
demand, storage and pumps.
• Main components of hydraulic design:
design parameters, choice of supply
scheme, network layouts.
• Engineering design: choice of pipe
materials, valves and other equipment.
• Pumps: Pump types and their applications,
design of pumping stations, power require­
ments and energy auxiliary equipment.
• Construction: pipe laying, testing and
disinfection.
• Operation and maintenance: water
losses, network cleaning and rehabilitation
procedures, water demand management.
• Asset management: optimal maintenance,
rehabilitation and replacement scheduling
About the text book
Focusing primarily on understanding steady-
state hydraulics that form the basis of hydraulic
design and computer modelling, Introduction
to Urban Water Distribution elaborates the
general principles and practices of water
distribution systems in a clear and direct way.
Workshop problems and design exercises
assist with understanding the material
and developing skills. The accompanying
CD contains all spreadsheet applications
mentioned in the text, and the network model
used in the design exercise.
Although written in a manner that makes
the book accessible to people with little
experience in water distribution systems, the
book will also benefit experienced engineers
dealing with advanced problems who wish to
refresh their knowledge.
The sections of the book
include:
•W
 ater transport and distribution systems
•W
 ater demand
• S teady flows in pressurised networks
• T he design of water transport and
distribution systems
•N
 etwork construction
•O
 peration and maintenance
Who should attend?
This course will be of benefit to engineering
and technical staff at municipalities, bulk water
suppliers and consultants who deal with water
distribution systems and would like to obtain
a solid base of knowledge on best practice
in the design and management of water
distribution systems.
It is also suitable as a refresher course for
experien­ced staff needing to update their
knowledge on water distribution systems.
Format
The material will be covered in an intensive
three day course. Lectures will be presented by
the course convenor and selected experts on
certain aspects of water distribution systems.
The course is aimed at providing practical
knowledge and will include several hands-on
calculation and design exercises.
Course 2 minor losses, fixed and variable speed pumps systems consisting of single pipes, and then
and numerous types of valves. Extended gradually add complexity, such as pumps,
period simulations can be performed using networks, pump stations, time simulation and
(9 - 10 February 2012) water quality modelling.
time-varying demand and cost patterns and
Hydraulic Modelling of Water complex control rules can be included in the
Distribution Systems using Epanet model.
Course content:
In addition to hydraulic modelling, Epanet
Day 1:
provides various wa-
Day 1, 10:00 AM

ter quality modelling • Basic Modelling

capabilities including • Introduction to Epanet
water age, blend- • Network elements
ing of water from
• Snapshot simulations
different sources, loss
of chlorine residuals, • Pumps and control valves
growth of disinfectant
Trace Lake
Day 2:
20.00
40.00 by-products, and
60.00
80.00 tracking of contami- • Advanced Modelling Techniques
percent

nation in a system. • Extended period simulations in Epanet

About Epanet
Epanet is a software package for hydraulic
and water quality modelling of water distribu-
tion systems.  It was developed by the US
Environmental Protection Agency as a research
tool and is available free of charge.
Epanet contains a state-of-the-art hydraulic
analysis engine, which is used by many com-
mercial hydraulic modelling software pack-
ages.  It is able to handle different pipe head
loss equations, head-dependent demands,
Epanet can be of • Demand patterns
great benefit to • Control rules
engineers involved • Network calibration tools
in planning, design, • Basic water quality analysis
analysis and opera-
tion of water distribu-
tion systems. Who should attend?
Engineering and technical staff involved with
the design, operation and management of
water distribution systems will benefit from the
About the course course.  A basic knowledge of water distribu-
tion systems hydraulics (as covered in Course
The Epanet course will cover the full spectrum 1) will be assumed.
of Epanet’s modelling capabilities, from basic
snapshot modelling to advanced techniques
such as water quality modelling. Format
The course will be presented in a hands-on
The two course days will lead the delegate
step-by-step through the different capabilities of and practical way with delegates doing
Epanet. Participants will follow the instructors practical modelling exercises using their own
in a hand-on manner on their own laptops, laptops.
aided by a detailed instruction manual and
assignments. The course will start with simple

General information about both courses Certificates

A certificate of attendance will be awarded to delegates who attend at least

Course convenor
Prof JE (Kobus) van Zyl holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Civil
Engineering and a Diploma in Scientific Computing from the Rand Afrikaans
University (now University of Johannesburg). He obtained a Ph.D. in Civil
Engineering at the University of Exeter in 2001. He is a registered Professional
Engineer, a member of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering,
American Society of Civil Engineers and the International Water Association
and a Fellow of the Water Institute of Southern Africa. He was Chair of the
Department of Civil Engineering Science at the University of Johannesburg
(2005 - 2007), and held the Rand Water Chair in Water Utilisation at the
same institution. In 1998 Prof van Zyl chaired the 10th Water Distribution
System Analysis (WDSA) Conference, held in the Kruger National Park. This is
one of the two leading international conference series on water distribution sys-
tems, and was the first time a WDSA conference was held outside the USA. He
has twice been awarded the Best Paper prize in the Journal of the South African
Institution of Civil Engineering and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Water
Resources Planning and Management. Prof. van Zyl’s research focuses on water
distribution systems and his current interests include hydraulic modelling, stochas-
tic analysis, water losses, metering, and water demand management.
Cost
Course 1: Introduction to the Design and Management of Water Distribution
Systems : R5000. Course 2: Hydraulic Modelling of Water Distribution Sys-
tems using Epanet: R3000.
Delegates registering for both courses will be charged a reduced fee of R6800.
The course fees include the text book (Course 1 only), notes and refreshments.
80% of the lectures.
CPD points
Both courses are registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa.
Introduction to the Design and Management of Water Distribution Systems is
accredited for 3 CPD points. Hydraulic Modelling of Water Distribution Systems
using Epanet is accredited for 2 CPD points.
Applications and cancellations
Application forms are available on the website www.cpd.uct.ac.za/applica-
tions. In order to ensure a place on the course applicants should complete
and return a signed application form to the course administrators: Heidi Tait
or Sandra Jemaar. Confirmation of acceptance will be sent on receipt of an
application form.
Closing date for applications is 27 January 2012
Payment is due one week before the start of a course. Technical enquiries must
be sent to Prof. Kobus van Zyl at kobus.vanzyl@uct.ac.za.
Cancellations must be received in writing one week before the start of the
course, or the full course fee will be charged.
Venue
UCT Campus. Detailes to be communicated to delegates.