An ArcGIS user is tasked with modeling water distribution for a city using an existing geodatabase. What should the user do?

The ideal approach for modeling water distribution is to create a geometric network from the feature dataset because a geometric network is specifically designed to handle flow and connectivity, which is essential for modeling utilities like water distribution systems. A geometric network allows for the representation of how the water flows through pipes, connections, and other infrastructure components, enabling the user to perform analyses such as tracing, flow direction, and connectivity checks.

Creating a geometric network utilizes the data structures in the feature dataset, which organizes spatial data relevant to the water distribution system. By leveraging the existing layouts and attributes present in the feature dataset—such as pipe sizes, flow direction, and connectivity points—the user can effectively establish rules for how water moves through the system.

While network datasets are used for transportation and other kinds of routing analysis, they do not specifically account for the attributes and relationships important in utility modeling, such as the flow of liquids. This makes them less suitable for this particular task compared to a geometric network, which is tailored for such analyses.