Does anyone know of any GIS tools or methods for planning unidirectional flushing (UDF) for an entire water distribution system?
For those unfamiliar, UDF is a proactive maintenance technique used to improve water quality and system performance. It involves flushing water mains in a controlled, sequential manner to remove sediment, biofilm, and stagnant water, which helps maintain chlorine residuals and reduce customer complaints about taste, odor, or discoloration.
I’m particularly interested in simple solutions that integrate with GIS, rather than complex hydraulic modeling software. Ideally, the tool should:
- Identify which hydrants to flush
- Determine which valves to close
- Organize the flushing process in chronological order so no water main is left unflushed
- Use GIS mapping for visualization and planning
Are there any tools, workflows, or best practices that combine GIS with UDF planning in a straightforward way? Any recommendations or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
