An　important　function　of　a　water　distribution　system　(WDS)　is　to　supply　drinking　water　to　each　demand　point　using　a　pipe　network　that　has　minimal　impact　on　the　surroundings.　To　produce　a　reliable　WDS,　planning　usually　requires　a　significant　amount　of　geo-spatial　information.　Current　planning　practices　for　pipeline　systems,　which　gather　geographic　information　based　on　maps,　are　time-consuming　and　cumbersome.　With　the　rapid　developments　in　computer　and　information　technology,　it　is　necessary　to　propose　a　new　WDS　planning　method　that　enhances　the　current　planning　practices　and　facilitates　the　decision-making　process.　The　proposed　method　allows　project　information　in　building　information　modeling　(BIM)　to　be　incorporated　into　a　geographic　information　system　(GIS)　model,　using　semantic　mapping　to　incorporate　WDS　project　data　and　geo-spatial　information　to　facilitate　the　WDS　planning　process.　Moreover,　a　3D　visualization　model　of　the　proposed　WDS　project　and　its　surroundings　is　provided.　In　addition,　topological　rules　are　set　to　identify　any　conflicts　between　the　WDS　project　and　its　surroundings.　A　real　WDS　project　was　used　to　validate　the　method.　The　proposed　method　can　help　project　participants　better　understand　the　WDS　project　and　its　surroundings　and　identify　any　errors　in　the　planning　process,　thus　improving　sustainable　development.