Use Water Utility Network Foundation

The Water Utility Network Foundation solution provides a preconfigured asset package, maps, styles, step-by-step instructions, common data management workflows, and more.

In this topic, you will learn how to use the solution to create and manage your water utility network. These workflows will use the asset map and utility network geodatabase that can be created from the essentials asset package in the Configure utility network environment topic. These are a guide to help you learn key workflows in the Water Utility Network Foundation solution.

Perform network traces

Tracing is a key capability of the utility network. There are several core trace configurations that allow you to analyze your network.

In the following workflows, you will perform several types of traces.

Find the subnetwork controller for a pressure zone

A key trace that often needs to be performed is to find a subcontroller of a pressure zone. Place a starting point and trace to find the route to the subnetwork controllers. Follow the steps below to complete a subnetwork trace which highlights the subnetwork controllers that are used in the pressure zone.

  1. Select the Utility Network ribbon. Under Tools, select the drop-down menu for Trace and select Starting Points.
  2. Add a starting point by clicking any distribution main.
    Note:

    If you have previous trace points on the map and want them to be removed, this can be done by clicking the Trace drop-down menu and selecting Clear All.

  3. In the Trace tool pane enter the following parameter values:

    ParameterValue

    Domain Network

    Water

    Tier

    Water Pressure

    Note:

    By selecting the tier as Water Pressure, the trace will be performed only within the pressure tier where the starting point is located. If the tier is set to Water System, it will trace the entirety of the water network.

  4. All other parameters can be left with the default values.
  5. Click Run.
  6. Zoom to the selected features.

    The features selected are the subnetwork controllers for the pressure tier where the starting point is located.

Perform isolation trace

A common maintenance task to be performed is to find all the isolating devices (such as valves) that need to be closed in order to isolate a specific area from the flow of water. In this example, you will perform an isolation trace using a trace configuration.

  1. Clear any previous trace starting points and barriers.
  2. Select the Utility Network ribbon. Under Tools, select the drop-down menu for Trace and select Starting Points.
  3. Add a starting point by clicking any distribution main or service line.
  4. On the toolbar under Tools, there is a list of available traces. Select Isolation. This will open the Trace geoprocessing tool and prepopulate some parameters.
    1. Place a checkmark on the Use Trace Configuration parameter.
    2. For Trace Configuration Name, select Isolation Trace.
    3. All other parameters can be left with the default values.
  5. Click Run.
  6. Zoom to the selected features.

    A trace will be performed and several features will be highlighted. This trace is looking for any devices that have the value Closeable set to Yes, Normal Status set to Open, and have a network category assignment of Isolating. The highlighted features indicate all of the assets that will need to be closed in order for the flow of water to stop to the specified starting point.

Add water assets

When working with the utility network, editing plays a crucial role. The Water Utility Network Foundation solution comes with preestablished editing workflows and templates. In the following sections, you will be guided through several essential editing workflows. These workflows are specifically designed to demonstrate common tasks and showcase the utility network's capabilities.

Note:

Before beginning, ensure that snapping is enabled for all asset groups in your map. In the Contents pane, click the List by Snapping tab. Expand all feature classes to ensure that snapping is checked for each asset group.

Add a residential service line with associated features

Residential buildings are connected to the water system through service lines. In this workflow, you will learn about the process of adding a service line that includes a service valve, a residential connection point, and a tap using a preconfigured group template.

  1. In the map, navigate to a location with a building that is near a distribution main that does not have a service line. You can use the default basemap to help you locate an appropriate building.
  2. Select the Edit ribbon. Under the Features section, select Create.

    The Create Features pane appears.

  3. In the Search Bar, type Residential Tap. Select the 3/4" Residential Tap Service option under the Water Junction: Fitting section and press the arrow to open the template.
    Note:

    You will notice that the result that is returned is located in the Water Junction: Fitting section. The group template is located in this section and not the Water Line: Service Line section, because the originating feature controls the rules associated with the group template. It originates with this group since a service line cannot connect to a water main without fitting.

  4. Under the templates section, there are four feature type icons. These represent the four components that will be added in your workflow. As you click through them, the attribute pane updates and allows you to change the associated attributes that will be populated when they are added. Select Service Line from the template icons and change the Material field to Polyvinyl Chloride.
  5. On the map, put a point on main. This will be the location where the tap is placed.
  6. Put another point just in front of the residential building. This will be the location where the service valve is placed.
  7. Place the third point on the building. This will be the location where the service connection is placed.
  8. Click the Finish button on the editing toolbar.
    Note:

    Notice that the area gets marked as dirty, as indicated by the blue hashed polygon.

    A service line will be drawn and will include the service connection, service valve, and tap.

  9. Select the Utility Network ribbon. In the Network Topology section, click Validate.

In this workflow, you added a 3/4" polyvinyl chloride service line that connects the residential building to the distribution main. On the building side, you added a service connection. In the middle, you added a 3/4" service valve, and on the distribution main, you added tap. This was all done in one action because it was done using a group template for editing.

Add a hydrant with associated features

A common water workflow is to add new hydrants after construction. In this workflow, you will add a hydrant and its associated features using a preconfigured group template.

  1. In the map, locate an open area between two buildings. We will locate the hydrant in this area.
  2. Select the Edit ribbon. Under the Features section, select Create.

    The Create Features pane appears.

  3. In the Search Bar, type Hydrant. Select the 6" Hydrant with Service and Valve option under the Water Junction: Fitting section and press the arrow to open the template.
    Note:

    Several results will be returned. The Hydrant result that is returned will only add a hydrant with no connecting features. You are using 6" Hydrant with Service and Valve because it is a group template and will add a 6" Hydrant with a service line and valve in an automated fashion.

  4. Under the templates section, there are three feature type icons. These represent the three components that will be added in your workflow. As you click through them, the attribute pane updates and allows you to change the associated attributes that will be populated when they are added. Select Service Line from the template icons and change the Material field to Polyvinyl Chloride.
  5. On the map, put a point on main. This will be the location where the tap is placed.
  6. Put another point just off the road. This will be the location where the service valve is placed.
  7. Place the third point on the where the hydrant will be located.
  8. Click the Finish button on the editing toolbar. A gravity main will be drawn and will include the manhole.
    Note:

    Notice that the area gets marked as dirty, as indicated by the blue hashed polygon.

  9. Select the Utility Network ribbon. In the Network Topology section, click Validate.

In this workflow, you added an 6-inch hydrant with a connecting service line and service valve. This was all done in one action because it was done using a group template for editing.