If the background drawing has existing piping, you may be able to use that piping for HydraCAD.
The ‘may’ all hinges on how the original author drew the piping. Is it from center of head to center of head (or fitting)? Is it from edge of head to edge or head (or fitting). Is it simply drawn through all heads and couplings on a line or main, without stopping at each head? Are they really polylines?
If they are polylines, Explode them first. This will break them into segments.
If they drew the other ways, you can convert them like this:
Step 1: Isolate the layer of the piping by typing PC to pick the current layer, and pick one of the pipes. You can also use AutoCAD’s Layer Isolate tool.
Step 2: Type in AF to turn all the layers off except for that current layer.
Step 3a: Select all of the pipe you want in the Main layer and pick SPRKDAT1 from the layer drop-down list
Step 3b: Select all of the pipe you want in the Line layer and pick SPRKDAT2 from the layer drop-down list
Step 3a: Select all of the pipe you want in the Underground layer and pick SPRKDAT3 from the layer drop-down list
Step 3a: Select all of the pipe you want in the Armover layer and pick SPRKDAT4 from the layer drop-down list
If they are only drawn edge to edge, you will have to turn on all the layer and use Grips or Extend to make the pipes reach the center / insert point of our heads and couplings.
If they are drawn through all the entities, you will have to break them up into segments. You can use AutoLine and AutoMain to do this relatively painlessly.
The H-Factor 
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