Improving equity in intermittent water supply systems

Abstract

Research Article| September 12 2013 Improving equity in intermittent water supply systems Ernest Effah Ameyaw; Ernest Effah Ameyaw 1Department of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (Formerly of Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, UK) E-mail: myernest2010@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Fayyaz Ali Memon; Fayyaz Ali Memon 2Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, UK Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Josef Bicik Josef Bicik 2Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, UK Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2013) 62 (8): 552–562. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2013.065 Article history Received: March 22 2013 Accepted: July 19 2013 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Ernest Effah Ameyaw, Fayyaz Ali Memon, Josef Bicik; Improving equity in intermittent water supply systems. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 December 2013; 62 (8): 552–562. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2013.065 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex The problems of limited financial resources and water scarcity in urban areas of developing countries are of concern to water managers following growing demand–supply imbalance. As a result, an intermittent supply is widely adopted as a measure for controlling water demand among consumers. However, ensuring equitable water distribution at low cost in intermittent water supply systems becomes a challenge. Most intermittent water supply systems fail to achieve both objectives and how to improve equity remains a complex task for water managers. There is little research in this area and therefore a need to develop more appropriate optimisation techniques that recognise this unique feature of intermittent systems in developing countries. The paper proposes a simple multi-objective optimisation model to measure and improve equity and minimise cost in intermittent distribution networks, under water scarcity condition. A simple network is subjected to intermittent supply to demonstrate the model, in which both locations and capacities of source tanks/reservoirs are subject to optimisation. A simulation model is used to model intermittent systems as pressure-dependent through the use of consumer storage tanks. The paper reveals that equity under intermittent supply conditions is measurable and can be improved through optimal location and sizing of elevated source reservoirs. EPANET2, equity, GANetXL, intermittent supply, multi-objective optimisation, tanks This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 2013 Supplementary data APPENDIX A: LAYOUTS OF SELECTED SOLUTIONS- pdf file You do not currently have access to this content.