Hydraulic and Water Quality Reliability of Water Distribution System under Uncertain Conditions

Abstract

Reliability assessment plays a significant role in the planning, design, and operation of water distribution systems (WDS). Herein, pressure, flow, chlorine concentration, and water age are simulated by continuity, energy, and transport equations; and hydraulic, water quality, and system reliability assessments are proposed based on a comparison between simulated hydraulic and water quality conditions and the desired service level. Because the independent parameters in hydraulic and water quality simulations cannot be estimated accurately, a hydraulic and water quality reliability assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation was applied to a network under three uncertain levels under steady- and unsteady-states. The effects of uncertain parameters on hydraulic and water quality reliability under steady- and unsteady-states were evaluated and compared to obtain the most significant parameters. The results indicated that the mean hydraulic reliability decreases with an increase in the uncertainty level for various nodes under steady- and unsteady-states, while the regulation is not suitable for water quality reliability. Pipe diameters have the most significant effects on hydraulic reliability under steady-state conditions, and mean hydraulic reliability under unsteady-state conditions. Nodal demand, bulk decay coefficient, and wall decay coefficient have effects on water quality reliability under steady-state conditions, while the roughness coefficient and pipe diameter also have effects on mean water quality reliability under unsteady-state condition. The results obtained can give managers more information about network reliability under uncertain conditions.