According to the Calibration Subcommittee of the AWWA Engineering Modeling Applications Committee (2013a), "water distribution model calibration consists of comparing model results with accurate field measurements and making adjustments to model and reviewing field data to improve agreement over a range of conditions that correspond to how the model is intended to be used." Calibration should result in a more accurate model, a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the model, and greater confidence in model results.

Hydraulic models of water distribution systems are widely used to help solve engineering and operational problems in water systems. To ensure that a model accurately represents a real system, model results are compared with physical measurements over a range of conditions. If the model predictions agree with the data, the model can be used with confidence for the conditions it was calibrated.