Quantifying Resilience via Multiscale Feedback Loops in Water Distribution Networks

Abstract

Water distribution network (WDN) resilience depends on both the underlying flow dynamics and the network topology. Although existing literature has examined a variety of complex network centrality and spectral properties, very little attention has been given to understand multiscale flow-based feedback loops and their impact on overall stability. Here, high-dimensional resilience arising from multiscale feedback loops is inferred using a compressed one-dimensional proxy measure called trophic coherence. This is hypothesized to have a strong impact on both the pressure deficit and the water age. The results show that trophic coherence is positively correlated with the time to recovery (0.62–0.52), but it is negatively correlated with the diffusion of a disruption (−0.66 to −0.52). Finally, random forest analysis is used to combine resilience measures, showing that the new resilience ensemble provides a more accurate measure for networked resilience.