Modern approaches to hydraulic modeling of water supply and wastewater systems: international experience and prospects for Ukraine

The article presents an in-depth analysis of contemporary international experience in the field of hydraulic modeling of water supply and wastewater systems. It thoroughly examines the fundamental hydraulic principles underlying modeling and their implementation in specialized software packages (including EPANET, WaterGEMS, SewerGEMS, InfoWorks ICM, etc.). Drawing on international guidelines, particularly AWWA M32, special attention is given to model construction requirements, levels of detail (from skeletonized to full-pipe models), and the procedures for calibration and validation of hydraulic models. Commonly accepted accuracy criteria for various engineering tasks are also presented. The study explores domestic experience in using software products, particularly Ukrainian systems such as "RIKOM" and "HYDRA", as well as the development of geographic information systems (GIS) for water utilities. A comprehensive analysis of current Ukrainian legislation in this field, including DBN V.2.5-74:2013, is conducted regarding the existence and completeness of requirements for hydraulic modeling. Significant gaps in the national regulatory framework are identified concerning the standardization of model creation, verification, application, and integration with GIS. The article substantiates the urgent need to improve Ukrainian normative documents to establish clear and modern “rules of the game” in the field of hydraulic modeling during the design, operation, and development of GIS for water and wastewater utilities, which will contribute to enhancing their efficiency and reliability.