Developing a stormwater model to help our client understand the network performance and make critical planning decisions

Waipawa Stormwater Modeling

Hydraulic models are an important design tool for our clients. They allow us to replicate real-world systems and analyze our clients’ networks through various assessments. Combining our clients’ local knowledge with our technical expertise, we use these models to create system insights and provide our clients with the information to make key planning decisions—that’s exactly what we did to help Central Hawke’s Bay District Council for the town of Waipawa.

Our team developed a stormwater model for the town and validated it against historical data. We assessed the stormwater system performance and developed conceptual solutions to address key identified level-of-service issues. Our services included scoping, survey planning, data insights and analytics, hydrological and hydraulic assessment, model build and validation, and system performance testing. Finally, we developed, costed, and prioritized solutions. We also created an online platform for sharing model results using ArcGIS Online. Model results were exported and manipulated in GIS to create interactive maps for the client to use in decision-making. And best of all? By changing our methodology to a sub-catchment hydrology approach, we reduced costs.

With our work on this project now complete, we’re ultimately supporting the Council to make key decisions for Waipawa’s future by demonstrating a real-world stormwater system.