Failure assessment for drinking water distribution system in the case of Bahir Dar institute of technology, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the issue of failure assessment in the drinking water distribution system was presented. This specific study was conducted on the water distribution system on the campus of Bahir Dar Institute of Technology. The current problem in Bahir Dar institute of technology is that the water infrastructure is aging and has not been spending adequate to repair, replace, or rehabilitate drinking water distribution systems. This develops higher stresses on the water distribution network causing pipes to crack, or rupture permanently while in service. Due to this problem, the whole water supply components in the distribution network led to increased water loss and quality reduction. The general objective of this study is to assess the risk of the water distribution system in the Bahir Dar Institute of technology water supply distribution system. In this study, a structural risk assessment was developed by using ARC GIS 10.5 and Water Cad V8i to get prioritize maps of the water distribution system and hydraulic analysis of the drinking water distribution system of the institute. In developing this assessment, the score was established based on the preset criteria to evaluate customer point risk and structural point risks such as water quality, water availability, pressure head adequacy, the flow rate of water, pipe, storage facility, and pump. Based on the result obtained from an equal weight approach, the score of the drinking water distribution system risk index is a medium level (2.56) with a low level of structural risk (2.5) and a medium level of consumer point risk (2.62). The results evaluated by the AHP method, structural risk has had the highest weight score (76%) which means it needs more priority than consumption point risk (24%), and the result of drinking water distribution system risk index laid at the medium level (2.7), it indicates the institution drinking water distribution system put at the satisfactory condition with the sum up the effect of medium structural risk index (2.65) and medium consumption point risk (2.82). Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the components of the campus water supply distribution system, particularly parts of the pipe and the majority of the pump, should be replaced before they become obsolete, and suitable preventive measures should be taken.

Keywords

• AHP method
• Equal-weight approach
• Failure assessment
• Failure risk index
• Water quality index