Leakage Reduction in Water Distribution Systems: Optimal Valve Control

Abstract

The reduction of leakage is an important objective of the United Kingdom water industry. The inclusion of pressure-dependent leakage terms in network analysis allows the application of formal optimization techniques to identify the most effective means of reducing water losses in distribution systems. The development of an optimization method to minimize leakage in water distribution systems through the most effective settings of flow reduction valves is described. The method shows a significant advantage compared with previously published techniques in terms of robustness and computational efficiency. A particular feature of the approach is the use of an objective function that allows minor violations in the targeted pressure requirements. This allows a much greater improvement in the exceedance of minor pressure requirements than would otherwise be achieved.