Economically Optimal Leak Management: Balancing Pressure Reduction, Energy Recovery, and Leak Detection and Repair

Abstract

Maximizing the net economic benefits of leak management programs provides the most value to water utilities and their customers. Leak management programs with alternative objectives (e.g., to “break even” or to maximize leak reduction) are not necessarily the most efficient use of resources. Combining hydraulic modeling with principles of economics and using a real distribution system to provide a case study, we present a methodology for maximizing the net economic benefits of a leak management program consisting of leak detection and repair activities and pressure management interventions. The optimization results include recommended leak detection and repair intervals for individual district metered areas, optimal siting of both pressure reducing valves and pumps-as-turbines (PATs), and modifications to the distribution system’s connectivity to isolate high-pressure areas. The case study results indicate that 10% to 11% of the system’s current energy use can be recovered by PATs and that the avoided leakage over the study period is equivalent to 13% to 23% of the system’s current customer demand. While leak detection and repair and pressure management are more commonly considered independently, this analysis demonstrates the feasibility of including their interdependencies when optimizing a leak management program, resulting in more useful recommendations.