EXPLORING OPTIONS IN THE DESIGN OF A WATER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR FIREFIGHTING

Exploring options in the design of a water distribution network for fire-fighting is presented. The method used was that of the gradient method embedded in the EPANET software. Analysis were carried out for a typical residential estate in Ebocha village. Input data such as fire water demand, pipe lengths, pipe diameters and assumed pump sizes were fed into the EPANET software. Results showed that the existing water distribution network for firefighting was inefficient with a negative pressure of -116.89 metre head when water was released for the purpose of fire-fighting. A total of 5 cases and 25 options of simulations were carried out for the proposed network for the residential area. The best option for the network simulation was that of case 7, option 2 which consisted of two Overhead tanks (OHT) of sizes 10 m ×10m × 2.7m, two submersible pumps of 35HP each and fire pump of 315 HP. The system is designed to automatically pump water 10 minutes after a fire incidence starts and this is possible because of the high aquifer yield in the locality.