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OpenFlows WaterCAD

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OpenFlows WaterCAD

Water distribution modeling and analysis software

Proven water distribution modeling

Design new water systems and manage existing water networks effectively to reduce disruption risks and energy use using reliable decision-support capabilities.

WHAT IS OPENFLOWS WATERCAD?

OpenFlows WaterCAD is an easy-to-use hydraulic and water quality modeling application for water distribution systems from fire flow and constituent concentration analyses, to energy cost management and pump modeling. You can design new water systems and manage existing water networks effectively to reduce disruption risks and energy use. Use OpenFlows WaterCAD from within MicroStation, AutoCAD, or you can choose to use OpenFlows WaterCAD as a stand-alone application, for additional flexibility. 

What-if Scenario Management

Easily analyze your existing water distribution system and predict how it will react in the future.

Reduce Energy Expenses

Compare different pump strategies and select the most cost-effective option for your system.

Analyze Pipe and Valve Criticality

Discover the weakest links in your water distribution systems and evaluate the adequacy of isolation valves.

Easily Analyze Water Quality

Determine water age, water source, analyze chlorine decay or perform multispecies analysis with just a few clicks.

Find Available Fire Flow at Hydrants

Quickly determine if your system provides adequate fire protection at any node.

OpenFlows WaterCAD is a subset of OpenFlows WaterGEMS.

*Prices vary per region. For more options, see licensing and subscriptions section.

Jose Matheus

OpenFlows WaterCAD saves water during drought

Focused on sanitation, environment, and urban infrastructure, the father/son team at TSA – Tecnologia em Saneamento Ambiental used OpenFlows WaterCAD to find leaks and optimize infrastructure saved precious water during a record-breaking drought.

User Quote

“WaterGEMS and WaterCAD helped us evaluate the improvement proposals for the Olinda supply system, which will benefit over 250,000 inhabitants, workers, and visitors in the region. This is just one example of how valuable this capability can be for basic sanitation companies, as it helps to improve human living conditions. Bentley is a key contributor to this process.”

— Vanessa Finamore Miranda, Environmental and Sanitary Engineer, Enorsul

OpenFlows Software Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

WaterCAD is an easy-to-use hydraulic and water quality modeling application for water distribution systems. WaterCAD is a reliable, resource-saving, decision-support application for your water infrastructure. From fire flow and water quality analysis, to energy cost management and pump modeling, WaterCAD helps you analyze, design, and optimize water distribution systems.

The price of OpenFlows WaterCAD varies per region. While there are various types of licensing available, a common choice is the 12-month practitioner license offered through Bentley’s eStore. When you purchase through the eStore, you get a Virtuoso Subscription. This means you get the software and “Keys” (tokens) to redeem for customizable training, mentoring, and consulting services.

WaterGEMS is a superset of WaterCAD. WaterGEMS includes a standalone version plus the integration with three platforms MicroStation, AutoCAD, and ArcGIS. Additionally, WaterGEMS comes with six modules for optimal operation planning and automatized model calibration that are not included in WaterCAD: 1) Pipe Renewal Planner 2) Darwin Designer 3) Darwin Calibrator 4) Darwin Scheduler 5) Skelebrator 6) SCADAConnect. Learn more about OpenFlows WaterGEMS.

Integration with AutoCAD is not included with a WaterCAD Virtuoso Subscription. However, integration with AutoCAD is available with a WaterCAD for AutoCAD perpetual license. For more information or to purchase a perpetual license, please contact our sales team.

Using the Fire Flow Navigator, you can quickly and accurately establish the ability of their network to provide protection against fires. WaterCAD simultaneously models multiple fire flow events evaluating flows and pressures across the entire system.

The Flushing Simulation tool helps you plan, analyze, and optimize flushing programs to control and improve water quality in their water distribution systems. You can perform both conventional and unidirectional flushing (UDF) simulations, as well as multiple flushing runs across multiple areas.

To perform criticality analysis and operations modeling, use the Criticality Analysis Center. It is a comprehensive utility to identify critical assets in water distribution infrastructure and evaluate the risk associated with their failure. Also, by using rule-based operational controls, variable-speed pumping (VSP), and pressure-dependent demands (PDD), you can find operational bottlenecks, minimize energy consumption, and model real-time operations to improve system performance.

Use the WaterCAD Scenario Management Center to get full control to configure, run, evaluate, visualize, and compare an unlimited number of what-if scenarios within a single file. You can easily make decisions by comparing unlimited scenarios, analyzing rehabilitation alternatives for multiple planning horizons, evaluating pump operation strategies, or flushing alternatives for emergency contamination events.

The LoadBuilder and TRex geospatial modules are included with WaterCAD at no additional cost, and they help you allocate water demands and node elevations based on geospatial data found in shapefiles, DEMs, and even CAD drawings, avoiding potential manual-input mistakes and speeding up the model-building process.

You can streamline model building when you use CAD drawings to directly create hydraulically connected models; import topology and data from GIS; and create persistent, bidirectional connections between shapefiles, databases, spreadsheets, and the WaterCAD model.

Refer to the ‘Installation Requirements’ section of the WaterCAD ReadMe file.

Platform pre-requirements
WaterCAD runs without platform restrictions as a stand-alone application. It can also run from within MicroStation. AutoCAD integration is not supported with a Virtuoso Subscription of WaterCAD. The requirements are also available in WaterCAD’s ReadMe file.

For the most up-to-date system requirements, visit Bentley Communities.

Licensing and Subscription options

Choose What is Right for You

One-year license with training

Virtuoso Subscription – A popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses

Get access to software that comes with training – fast! Bentley’s eStore, Virtuosity, offers a convenient way to lease a 12-month license of Bentley software for a low, upfront cost. Every online purchase through Virtuosity comes as a Virtuoso Subscription that includes training and auto-renewals.

With no contract required, it’s easy to get started quickly.

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One-time purchase with support

Perpetual License with SELECT

A perpetual license of Bentley software is a one-time purchase, with a yearly maintenance subscription, called SELECT. This includes 24/7/365 technical support, learning resources, and the ability to exchange licenses for other software once a year. With SELECT, you will benefit from:

  • License pooling, so you can access your software from multiple computers.
  • Access additional Bentley software with Term Licenses, which allow you to pay for what you use without the upfront cost of purchasing a perpetual license.

Annual renewal quotes are delivered directly to your inbox, and our experienced Renewal Representatives are available to answer your questions and guide you through any changes you’d like to make.

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Enterprise Organizations

We’ve got your back

For larger organizations with in-depth requirements, we offer plans to provide global pricing and access to our comprehensive portfolio of solutions and success plan services. Contact us about how to get access to software, global best practices, implementation services, training, and technical support to help your organization realize its full potential while addressing your unique needs.

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Best-Selling Water Resources Textbook

Computer Applications in Hydraulic Engineering

This fully updated 9th edition textbook is available for download! Ideal for engineers and students in hydraulics and hydrology, offering theory and real-world applications with problem-solving and modeling exercises featuring OpenFlows WaterGEMS, HAMMER, SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, PondPack, StormCAD, FlowMaster and CulvertMaster.

Reliable, decision-support hydraulic and water quality software

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