OpenFlows Sewer
Civil engineering design software
CAD software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$982.00 per 12-month Virtuoso subscription
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
Small
Medium
Large
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
- Energy and utilities
- Professional services (engineering, legal, consulting, etc.)
What is OpenFlows Sewer
OpenFlows Sewer is a civil engineering design and analysis application for modeling sanitary and storm sewer collection systems. It supports hydraulic and hydrologic simulation, capacity assessment, and scenario comparison for planning, design, and operational studies. The product is typically used by municipal engineers, consultants, and utilities that need to evaluate network performance, overflows, and system upgrades. It is positioned as a specialized sewer modeling tool rather than a general-purpose CAD drafting platform.
Purpose-built sewer network modeling
The software focuses on sanitary and storm sewer collection systems, including network hydraulics and related design checks. This specialization can reduce the need for extensive customization compared with general civil design or generic CAD tools. It fits workflows where engineers need to test alternatives, evaluate bottlenecks, and document design assumptions. The scope aligns with sewer planning and detailed design tasks rather than broad multi-discipline modeling.
Scenario and what-if analysis
OpenFlows Sewer supports comparing alternatives such as pipe upsizing, storage, pump changes, and control strategies through scenario management concepts. This helps teams evaluate impacts on surcharge, overflow risk, and capacity constraints across multiple design options. It is useful for iterative studies where inputs and boundary conditions change frequently. The approach supports decision-making for capital improvement planning and phased upgrades.
Integration within OpenFlows suite
As part of the OpenFlows family, it can align with related water and stormwater modeling workflows used by the same organizations. This can simplify standardization of modeling practices, data exchange, and staff training across network types. Organizations already using other OpenFlows products may benefit from shared conventions and licensing options. The suite orientation supports multi-model program work where sewer analysis is one component.
Not a full CAD platform
Although it can be used alongside CAD-centric design environments, OpenFlows Sewer is not primarily a drafting or BIM authoring tool. Users often still require separate CAD software for plan production, detailed geometry editing, and deliverable drawings. This can introduce handoffs between modeling and drafting steps. Teams seeking an all-in-one CAD-and-analysis environment may need additional integration work.
Learning curve for modeling
Hydraulic/hydrologic modeling requires careful setup of network data, boundary conditions, and calibration assumptions. New users may need training to avoid misinterpreting results or applying inappropriate parameters. Model QA/QC and documentation practices are important and can add overhead. This is common in specialized network modeling tools relative to general civil design packages.
Data preparation and QA effort
Building a reliable sewer model often requires cleaning asset data, validating connectivity, and reconciling elevations and pipe attributes. If GIS/asset records are incomplete or inconsistent, significant preprocessing may be required before analysis is trustworthy. Ongoing updates can also require governance to keep models synchronized with as-built changes. These data-management demands can be a barrier for smaller teams.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Starting at USD 982.00 (12-month Virtuoso subscription; shown on Bentley eStore) | Up to 100 pipes; includes SewerCAD. Purchase option available on Bentley's eStore (Virtuoso subscription with training/Keys); prices vary by region. |
| Standard | Price not listed on product page (select option on Bentley eStore; price varies by region) | Up to 1,000 pipes; includes SewerCAD. |
| Advanced | Price not listed on product page (select option on Bentley eStore; price varies by region) | Up to 5,000 pipes; includes SewerCAD and SewerGEMS. |
| Ultimate | Bentley eStore displays "Regular Price USD 163,000.00" for the product (price breakdown by tier not shown on site) | Unlimited pipes; includes SewerCAD and SewerGEMS. Perpetual license with annual SELECT maintenance is available (contact Bentley for quotes). |
Notes: Pricing and specific per-tier prices are provided on Bentley's official eStore (Virtuosity) and may vary by region/currency. The Virtuoso option is a 12-month practitioner license bundled with training (called a Virtuoso Subscription). For perpetual (one-time) licensing and enterprise quotes, Bentley asks customers to contact sales.
Seller details
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Exton, Pennsylvania, USA
1984
Public
https://www.bentley.com/
https://x.com/bentleysystems
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bentley-systems/
