Abstract
Operation and management of a water distribution network (WDN) by district metered areas (DMAs) bring many benefits for water utilities, particularly regarding water loss control and pressure management. However, the optimal design of DMAs in a WDN is a challenging task. This paper proposes an approach for the optimal design of DMAs in the multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework based on the outcome of a coupled model comprising a self-organizing map (SOM) and a community structure algorithm (CSA). First, the clustering principle of the SOM algorithm is applied to construct initial homologous clusters in terms of pressure and elevation. CSA is then coupled to refine the SOM-based initial clusters for the automated creation of multiscale and dynamic DMA layouts. Finally, the criteria for quantifying the performance of each DMA layout solution are assessed in the MCDA framework. Verifying the model on a hypothetical network and an actual WDN proved that it could efficiently create homologous and dynamic DMA layouts capable of adapting to water demand variability.
Highlights
The introduction of the divide-and-conquer paradigm in the early 1980s has simplified the computation and control of leakage in a large water distribution network (WDN) [1]
The proposed methodology was verified on an actual large WDN, the Wolf-Cordera Ranch WDN located in Colorado, USA
The dynamic configuration means that new district metered areas (DMAs) layouts are simplified by aggregation/disaggregation approach while always preserve the set of boundary pipes at each level
Summary
The introduction of the divide-and-conquer paradigm in the early 1980s has simplified the computation and control of leakage in a large water distribution network (WDN) [1]. The clustering phase focuses on defining the optimal configuration of the DMAs, and the sectorization phase physically decomposes the network by determining the location of flow meters and gate valves. The operation and management (O&M) of a WDN using DMAs has been proven to have several merits, a few of which are listed as follows: (i) leakage control, which in turn reduces the quantity of non-revenue water [4,5,6]; (ii) simple pressure management [7]; (iii) prompt identification of burst pipes and speedy repair [8]; (iv) protection of the network from accidental or malicious contamination events [9,10]; (v) monitoring of water quality and optimized sensor placement [11]. The balance between merits and demerits should be considered during the implementation of DMAs
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