Spatial analysis of head pressure in the Al-Wathba Water Project/Baghdad City- Iraq

Abstract

Drinking water is a precious necessity for the sustainability of life in the cities. The Al-Wathba Water Project was selected because it supplies the most important residential and commercial areas in Baghdad city. It has not been witness any development in the recent years, thus representing a problem that requires study and analysis. The project extends over an area of approximately 12.8 square kilometers. Geographically, the study area bounded between latitudes 33° 18' 37" and 33° 21' 35" N and longitudes 44° 22' 18" and 44° 26' 4" E. The study aims to evaluate the spatial distribution of water head pressure in the supplied area, prepare isobaric maps, and demonstrate the role of land use, water network specifications, area topography, and the distance from the main pumping station in spatial water head pressure variations. Field measurements of water head pressure were conducted during the winter and summer seasons using special gauges that measure water pressure from pipes directly connected to the network. Two types of gauges are used, one reading up to 1 bar and the other up to 11 bar. Information about the main and secondary pumping stations and their mechanical and hydraulic specifications was also collected from the relevant departments. Spatial analysis software are used to build the geographic database and to conduct the spatial analysis, i.e., ArcGIS 10.8.2, ArcGIS pro 3.3.2, and ArcGIS online. The water head pressure measurement results and maps showed spatial variation in the pressure values; this is due to several reasons, including the density of residential buildings, changes in pipe diameters, and the increase in the number of connections between pipes, all of these factors led to changes in the water head pressure. The increase in water demand during the summer season also showed a difference in the head pressure drop in the area compared to those measured during the winter season. In conclusion, the study recommends the need to update and develop the water network, as it has not witnessed expansion for a long time, despite the population increase in the project area.