Pressure Sensor Placement in Water Distribution Systems Using Leak Resolution–Specific Surrogates for Leak Localization

Abstract

The effectiveness of model-based leak localization methods in water distribution systems (WDSs), including optimization-based and machine learning approaches, significantly depends on the quality and quantity of input data. Pressure data, easily accessible due to nonintrusive sensor installation and maintenance, are commonly used. However, economic constraints limit the number of sensors in WDSs, highlighting the need for strategic sensor placement to enhance data quality. This study introduces a novel, method-independent sensor placement strategy that integrates cluster definitions (leak resolution) with intuitive surrogates for localization performance, addressing the limitations of existing methods reliant on complex, nonintuitive metrics. We propose the Euclidean cluster-based optimal placement of sensors (ECOPS) approach, which employs sensitivity and uniqueness as fundamental signal properties to guide sensor placement. Validation tests within a comprehensive real-world WDS demonstrate that ECOPS outperforms existing surrogate-based approaches and improves the performance of current sensors installed for leak characterization. These findings provide compelling evidence of ECOPS’s potential for enhancing pressure sensor placement, thereby improving leak localization in WDS applications.