Capacity Analysis

A Capacity Analysis looks at the technical, financial, and managerial ability of a water system to serve a given number of connections.  It looks at source, storage, pumps, treatment, water rights, hydraulic analysis, and legal parameters that constrain your system.

When do you need a capacity analysis?

There are a large number of reasons that DOH may require a capacity analysis, or that you may want to develop a capacity analysis for your own use and information to verify water system reliability and supply.  The following are some of the most common reasons a capacity analysis may be needed or desired:

1. When you are asking for an increase in the number of approved connections from DOH.
2. When you have experienced low pressure or out-of-water conditions during peak use.
3. When you are uncertain about your system’s ability to provide service in the future as the number of connections increases, or as usage patterns change.
4. When you are combining (consolidating) two or more systems.
5. When you are seeking approval for an existing, unapproved water system.
6. When obtaining approval for an inter-tie with another public water system.

The process for a Capacity Analysis is similar to other projects.  One notable difference is that the quality of the capacity analysis is only as good as the data upon which it is based.  Regular and accurate source and/or service meter readings are essential to developing a meaningful capacity analysis.  If no records are available, an analysis is still possible; however, conservative assumptions will need to be made that tend to be more restrictive than the actual data would have been.