A new software system designed to monitor and measure the city’s water system is now up and running.
Back in early 2020 the city of Emporia and BG Consultants began work on the development of a digital water model which was officially unveiled before the Emporia City Commission during a recent study session. According to Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants, the software was developed utilizing information from the city’s Geographic Information System (GIS) regarding underground water lines.
According to City Engineer Jim Ubert the model’s development was funded as part of a roughly $10-$15 million investment into water system upgrades with the cost of the project utilizing less than one percent of those funds. Ubert says it is money well spent especially when you consider the long term benefits it provides in strategic investment planning.
Ubert adds a major goal for the city with the model’s development was maximizing the city’s transmission main in the water network to effectively serve large-volume water users in the community.
Public Works Director Dean Grant states the model is “an amazing tool” for his department.
According to Boettcher, BG is currently into the “long-term planning” stage of the project with report writing currently underway. He says the software will be a “fluid” model with updates being made to the software whenever there are updates made to the city’s water system to ensure the data contained in the model is as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
