Imej Gautam
Back to Projects

Fair Water Distribution Management Plan (DMA Focus)

Research work at KUKL (Maharajgunj Branch) focused on assessing and simulating the existing distribution pattern in DMA 10.1 and preparing a fair water distribution plan based on population and demand, supported by GIS mapping and NRW analysis workflows.

Jump to Overview

Overview

This page documents my research work under the initiative “Collaborative Research and Capacity Strengthening for Enhancing Water Security in Kathmandu Valley (Phase-1)” under Govt. of Nepal and my assigned theme: “Fair Water Distribution Management Plan in one DMA”.

Research Details

  • Placement: KUKL, Maharajgunj Branch
  • Theme: Fair Water Distribution Management Plan in one DMA
  • Supervisor: Er. Narayan Karna
  • Core DMA: DMA 10.1 (fair distribution assessment + simulation)

Areas of Work

My research activities covered three main areas:

1) Pipe Network Mapping (QGIS)

I supported pipeline and valve inventory mapping using QGIS, including digitization and attribute updates (material, diameter, and alignment) based on field coordination with valve operators and site offices. The outputs were used to improve network understanding and support downstream analysis.

  • Mapped areas: Tarakeshwor & Tokha Municipality
  • Coordination: Valve operators (field coordination) and site offices
  • Output: Updated pipe network layer and pipe database summaries (material/diameter)

2) NRW Calculation (DMA 7.1)

NRW calculation is a key first step in NRW management, it involves collecting monthly readings at customer connections and estimating supplied water that did not generate revenue due to issues like unauthorized consumption or metering defects.

  • DMA: DMA 7.1
  • Approach: Monthly meter reading-based calculation and comparison across scenarios

3) Fair Water Distribution Plan (DMA 10.1)

KUKL’s fair water distribution planning aims to allocate water more equitably so supply matches demand as closely as possible. My role was to assess and analyze how the fair water supply plan performs in DMA 10.1 and whether it supports equitable access.

Data Preparation

  • DMA Coverage: Define/confirm the area covered by DMA 10.1
  • Sub-division: Organize sub-areas using meter reading address information
  • Network: Build/verify the water supply network map for DMA 10.1

Hydraulic Modeling (WaterGEMS)

A hydraulic model was developed for DMA 10.1 and compared with actual meter reading observations to evaluate real-world performance.

Key Findings

Comparing meter readings with model-predicted outflows showed major gaps across most locations. Actual supply was about 35–55% lower than expected in areas such as Chamati 3, Balaju, and New Colony, while a few sites like Janahit Tole and Lekhnath Sadak aligned more closely.