2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Free software costs money

A comparison between EPANET v2.0,
WaterCAD and WaterGEMS v8i SS3

Angela.Suarez@Bentley.com
Application Engineer
Bentley Hydraulics & Hydrology Solutions

What is it like to model using

WaterCAD/GEMS

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

EPANET

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Consider these:

1. Ease of use
2. Hydraulic elements
3. CAD, GIS interoperability
4. Model building tools

6. Technical Support + Training

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2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

5. Advanced hydraulic features

1. Ease of use
EPANET

WaterCAD

WaterGEMS

Model Layout / Data Entry

Graphs
Tabular Reports
Profiles
Contours
Element Symbology

Network Navigator
Export to Google Earth
* Available in the MicroStation platform only
**Available In MicroStation and ArcGIS platforms

Available

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*
Limited

**
Not Available

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Pressure Zone Manager

2. Modeling Elements
EPANET

WaterCAD

WaterGEMS

Reservoir
Tank
Junction
Pipe
PRV, PSV, PBV, FCV, TCV, GPV
Air valves at high points
Hydropneumatic Tanks

Hydrants
Variable Speed Pump
Variable Speed Pump Battery
Available
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Limited

Not Available

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Isolation Valves

3. CAD, GIS Interoperability

EPANET

WaterCAD

WaterGEMS

Database import/export
Convert CAD to pipes
Shapefile import / export
Runs inside of ArcGIS
Runs inside of AutoCAD

Runs inside of MicroStation

Excel import/export
Oracle, SQL import/export
Import/Export EPANET files
* AvailableAvailable
at an additional cost
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Limited

Not Available

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Background CAD, shapefiles, .JPG

4. Model Building Tools

EPANET

WaterCAD

WaterGEMS

Demand Allocation using meter data

Demand Allocation using population
Demand Allocation by land use or area
Includes Average Demand Libraries?
Includes Material Libraries?

SCADA connection

Network Skeletonization

User-defined attributes
Associate external files (photos, videos, etc)
* Available in WaterCAD as an Add-On

Available

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Limited

Not Available

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Terrain Elevation Extractor

5. Advanced Hydraulic Features

EPANET

WaterCAD

WaterGEMS

Scenario Management
Automated Fire Flow analysis
Model Calibration (Genetic Algorithms)

Pump scheduling

Automated design and rehabilitation

Criticality analysis and Flushing studies

Source Tracking
*

Pressure Dependent Demands

Pipe Renewal Planner (Asset Management)

Water Hammer Modeling

**

* Available in
WaterCAD as an Add-On
Limited
Available
** Use same WaterCAD/WaterGEMS file in Bentley HAMMER
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**

Not Available

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Leakage detection

6. Training and Technical Support

EPANET

WaterCAD

WaterGEMS

24/7 Technical support

Virtual instructor-led training
Virtual On-Demand training
Local Classroom training
Internet forums
Knowledgebase

Available
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Limited

Not Available

2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Modeling Books, Textbooks