Operation Of Water Supply Systems Research Articles

The socio-technical short-term implications of drinking water hoarding on supply reliability

ABSTRACT Panic buying during crises, like the initial hoarding of toilet paper amid COVID-19 restrictions, is mainly driven by social and emotional factors influenced by risk perception and social media content. Similarly, unreasonable drinking water hoarding, i.e., simultaneous withdrawal of water by a large number of customers, can influence the performance of water supply systems (WSS). Decreasing performance (e.g., more friction losses and therefore a smaller outflow rate at faucets) can cause a negative feedback loop that might trigger further water hoarding behaviours. This research explores the socio-technical implications of water hoarding in crisis situations within a WSS. An analysis of an Alpine WSS in Austria reveals that up to 40% of households, with a filling rate of 0.1 L/s (bathtub filling), can hoard without performance drop and negative feedback. Beyond this threshold, impacts become noticeable, leading to inadequate water supply for some households, causing disruptions and negative feedback loops. This emphasizes the need for information campaigns to counter false information, preventing emotional triggers. In conclusion, the research highlights the interplay between technical and social factors in crisis water demand management, stressing the importance of informed interventions to mitigate hoarding behaviour and maintain efficient WSS operation.

Criteria for selection of technology to exploit groundwater in water-scarce area in Vietnam

Abstract. Water extraction solutions in the high mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam commonly include rainwater harvesting, dug wells, drilled wells, groundwater springs, and hanging lakes. However, many water supply systems operate inefficiently and lack flexibility. This study established 10 criteria for selecting groundwater exploitation technology, divided into three groups: water resources, economic and technical, social, and environmental criteria. These criteria aim to identify appropriate water extraction technologies suitable for high mountainous and water-scarce regions, ensuring the long-term and efficient operation of water supply systems. The Geographic Information System (GIS) approach was utilized, integrating the criteria using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to select suitable water extraction technologies. The research results indicate that the evaluation criteria for determining suitable areas for implementing sustainable water extraction technologies, and the weights assigned to these criteria, ensure a consistent ratio (CR) <10 % according to the hierarchical analysis method. This article presents the results of identifying areas suitable for implementing groundwater extraction technologies using drilled wells, based on seven criteria within three groups: water resources, economic and technical, and social criteria. The GIS approach has been employed, and the criteria have been integrated using the AHP to select and determine the areas suitable for implementing groundwater extraction technologies using drilled wells.

Criteria for selection of technology to exploit groundwater in water-scarce area in Vietnam

Abstract. Water extraction solutions in the high mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam commonly include rainwater harvesting, dug wells, drilled wells, groundwater springs, and hanging lakes. However, many water supply systems operate inefficiently and lack flexibility. This study established 10 criteria for selecting groundwater exploitation technology, divided into three groups: water resources, economic and technical, social, and environmental criteria. These criteria aim to identify appropriate water extraction technologies suitable for high mountainous and water-scarce regions, ensuring the long-term and efficient operation of water supply systems. The Geographic Information System (GIS) approach was utilized, integrating the criteria using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to select suitable water extraction technologies. The research results indicate that the evaluation criteria for determining suitable areas for implementing sustainable water extraction technologies, and the weights assigned to these criteria, ensure a consistent ratio (CR) <10 % according to the hierarchical analysis method. This article presents the results of identifying areas suitable for implementing groundwater extraction technologies using drilled wells, based on seven criteria within three groups: water resources, economic and technical, and social criteria. The GIS approach has been employed, and the criteria have been integrated using the AHP to select and determine the areas suitable for implementing groundwater extraction technologies using drilled wells.

Input allocative efficiencies for operation and maintenance of rural piped water supply systems in highland areas of Vietnam

Strengthening the functioning of existing rural piped water supply systems is a critical strategy for ensuring household water security, particularly in water-scarce contexts. Improving operation and maintenance (O&M) of the systems is an important area of focus, commonly plagued by poor reliability and functionality over time. From an economic perspective, there is an opportunity to optimise O&M input efficiencies as a foundation for improved management. This paper presented challenges and opportunities to optimise O&M input efficiencies based on an analysis of water supply systems in Vietnam’s highland areas characterised by mountainous terrain and water scarcity. The analysis focused on state-based agencies for O&M given their mandate for restoring the inefficient systems and identified input norms for guidance on how to optimise O&M activities. We applied an input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) model under constant returns to scale assumption to estimate technical, economic and allocative efficiencies. The results identified efficiency levels of 90%, 30% and 33% respectively. The study suggests a 10% reduction in general input amounts and identified efficient input target values reveal potential reduction rates for technical labour (12%), electricity (12%), as well as the technical and economic norms of technical labour (0.86 person- day∙(100 m3)–1 water sold) and electricity (0.53 kWh∙m–3 water sold). The policy implications for O&M state-based agencies include the adoption of input-based contracting mechanisms, while the government is encouraged to approve water tariffs and provide compensation based on input items to promote water service supply as a public good in water- scarce and challenging areas.

The Impact of Climate Change on the Failure of Water Supply Infrastructure: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Current State of Knowledge

With ongoing climate change, new threats appear to the operation of water supply systems (WSSs), which are related to the amount of available drinking water resources, its quality, the operation of existing water supply infrastructure and changes in consumer behavior. The paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the state of knowledge on the impact of climate change on the failure of water supply infrastructure. The bibliometric analysis was performed based on the VOSviewer program. The results of the analysis indicate current research trends in this area around the world and allow the identification of strengths and weaknesses. Most research concerns the identification of factors related to the impact of climate on the failure rate of water distribution systems. A popular research topic was also the prediction of water supply network failures, taking into account the impact of climatic factors. The main research gap is determining the impact of climate change on water quality. The acquired knowledge can be used by water companies, policy-makers and other researchers to plan adaptation strategies to climate change, which pose new challenges for the operation of water supply systems. The conducted bibliometric analysis also allowed for identifying research gaps.

Analytical Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization for Cost-Efficient Operation of Water Supply Systems

Analytical Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization for Cost-Efficient Operation of Water Supply Systems

Determination of technogenic risks when using various water purification technologies

In modern conditions, ensuring the reliability and safety of water supply systems is a primary task for the industrial economy and the safety of life of the population of Ukraine. Constant bombing and damage to critical infrastructure facilities, including water management facilities, endangers the stability and quality of the country's water resources. In this context, conducting research on the identification of man-made risks in water treatment systems using various technologies, as well as developing strategies to increase the reliability and safety of operation of water supply systems are becoming relevant for the industrial sector of Ukraine. In order to increase the reliability of water treatment units and their operational safety, man-made risks were investigated when using ion exchange, electrodialysis, and water distillation technologies at thermal power plants. It is shown that during normal operation of the ion-exchange water purification system with an average productivity of 400 m3/h, in the case of frequent changes in the concentration of salts at the inlet, the risk of receiving underpurified water is 0.0783. This value must be taken into account for the assessment of economic and social-ecological risks, since it exceeds the generally accepted value of 0.01. When using electrodialysis water purification and frequent changes in the concentration of salts at the inlet, the risk of receiving underpurified water is 0.0271. This value is also greater than 0.01 risk accepted as acceptable. The water distillation technology has enough margin to compensate for any deviations in the purification process and gives a very low risk. However, the distillation process is more effective in removing only soluble impurities, while in the case of suspended substances, in particular of organic origin, there is a risk of exceeding the limit of 0.01.

Operation of Water Supply Systems in the Czech Republic—Risk Analysis

A reliable supply of quality drinking water is a fundamental prerequisite for a healthy society and its economic development. Public ownership of water infrastructure is prevalent in most European countries. In the Czech Republic, however, water infrastructure is highly fragmented, which entails multiple risks. The fragmentation of the sector leads to a low economic efficiency of operations, the unstable quality of service provision, and significant price differences. The aim of the paper is to use the IFE matrix to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of different ways of operating water supply systems in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, through the FMEA method (failure mode and effects analysis), this paper tries to identify the risks and threats to drinking water supplies for selected operators (representing the most frequently used operating models) and, subsequently, it proposes measures to mitigate the identified risks. The topic was addressed in the form of a case study of selected water system operators in the Czech Republic, and the findings indicate the compartmentalized model to be the most appropriate operating model.

Applicability of information technology in the design and operation of water supply and wastewater systems in Russia: A review

The article examines the role of information technology in the design and operation of water supply and wastewater systems. Noted that the history of the water supply development in Russia went back many centuries. At the same time, the first urban water supply projects were developed jointly by architects and engineers over several years; today, project development takes much less time, since in the modern world information technology has become an integral part of various industries, significantly improving the efficiency and quality of processes. The Renga functional was analyzed, algorithm for adding a new category of engineering equipment is proposed.

Updating the regulatory framework for the design and construction of water supply and sanitation systems

The paper discusses the aspects of updating and approaches to improving the regulatory and technical documents, i.e. Codes of Practice (CPs), State Standards (GOSTs) to enhance the efficiency of design, construction and operation of water supply and wastewater disposal systems in Russian cities and communities. The development of a methodology for switching over the system of regulatory and technical documents to the parametric standardization is analyzed. It is demonstrated that in recent years, the Russian construction sector has set a course for revising and updating the regulatory framework in the field of design and construction, thus reducing the statutory requirements in the Codes of Practice. The definitions of various methods for the development and application of regulations and standards in construction are given. It is demonstrated that the planned transition from the prescriptive regulation system to a parametric one with specified quality criteria for the finished product is aimed at the development of the quality criteria for the finished project or product using any alternative approaches and methods, transferring a significant part of building codes and regulations to the voluntary category. Evidently, such amendments to the regulatory framework require a very detailed scientific and practical justification.

Model-Based Approach for Leak Detection and Localization in Water Distribution Networks: A Literature Survey

Water loss poses a significant problem for water utilities and has received a lot of attention. To fulfill the increasing global demand for water, water supply system operations must be streamlined, making leak detection and location crucial. Water utilities have developed a number of techniques over time for finding leaks in water distribution networks (WDNs). These methodologies range from simple visual inspection to the use of hardware systems and now software using models and algorithms. Data from flow or pressure measurements, which are required for the analysis of water networks, is becoming more readily available with the introduction of intelligent sensor devices. Along with the introduction of geographic information systems (GIS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) in the water sector, the deployment of model-driven methodologies for leak detection and localization has found extensive use. This paper aims to provide a concise introductory reference for early researchers in the development of a model-based approach for leak detection in WDNs. Thus, a survey of model-based approaches is presented, along with current research trends and applications of model-driven methodologies for leak detection in water supply networks. Several model-driven approaches and research studies for each case are discussed. Some challenges and research gaps are also discussed.

PRINCIPLES OF APPLICATION OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN REGIONS WITH LIMITED DRINKING WATER RESOURCES

The unsatisfactory ecological state of water resources indicates, first of all, the problems of pollution and depletion of water resources and their relevance today. The lack of an optimal principle of management and responsibility for the state of surface sources of drinking water supply has led to the fact that industrial facilities, which, depending on their technological processes, determine the state of the surface source of drinking water, are located in the territory of the same regions, and the production and consumption of drinking water from of this source occurs on the territory of other regions, which complicates the settlement of control issues at the regional level. Therefore, solving the task of preparing drinking water of the required quality at drinking water treatment stations is a strategically important task in the conditions of a significant anthropogenic factor. This issue has become especially relevant in recent years on the territory of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict, which has turned into a full-scale armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine. Today, these issues concern the south-eastern regions especially acutely. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the long-term operation of water supply systems without a capital replacement of communications, the lack of modernization of treatment facilities, or their absence at all, the consequences of irresponsible economic activity that led to the pollution of surface water became the prerequisite for a difficult situation with water supply of standardized quality. Of particular concern in connection with chemical and bacteriological pollution is the state of water supply for the rural population, which in most cases uses water from underground water sources for drinking purposes. A quarter of the villages and towns of Ukraine use the services of centralized domestic drinking water supply, and more than 60% of the population of most regions in Ukraine consume water from wells, the nitrate content of which is 1.5–30 times higher than the standard level. So, taking into account the fact that fresh water resources on Earth are distributed extremely unevenly, and arid or partially arid regions of the world include 40% of the landmass, which use only 2% of the world's water reserves, the issue of the introduction of modern water supply systems and the modernization of existing ones with the use of modern technologies is gaining more and more importance. According to the conclusions of scientists and the analysis of statistical data, it is possible to predict the development of the economy of Ukraine based on the introduction of hydrogen energy. But regardless of today's realities and a number of obstacles in the development of Ukraine, it is worth paying attention to urgent problems in the country that require urgent solutions, on which national security depends. Taking into account the fact that renewable energy sources are currently widely implemented in Ukraine and the world, and taking into account the problem of water supply as a global problem and local problems of a regional scale in the territory of Ukraine, it will be relevant in the future to use the indicated capacities to obtain certain volumes of suitable water, in accordance with sanitary standards, for use by the population. The proposed approach of using the capacities of renewable sources of electric energy for the needs of the functioning of systems for obtaining water suitable, in accordance with sanitary standards, for use by the population. The introduction of renewable energy sources into the system of obtaining water suitable, in accordance with sanitary standards, for use by the population should provide an opportunity to expand the functional capabilities of existing installations and increase their efficiency. This approach also aims to attract the attention of investors and reduce the ecological burden on the environment.

Study on Gamma selection in the optimal operation of secondary water supply system based on deep Q-learning network

Abstract When the requirements for water pressure and quantity of drinking water for residents and industrial buildings exceed the capacity of the urban water distribution system, a secondary water supply system (SWSS) is supplied to users by pipelines through storage, pressurization, and other facilities. In China, SWSS has been installed in 97% of residential buildings and the operation of SWSS is directly related to the water pressure and water quality of the users' tap water. In this paper, the operation optimization objectives for the SWSS with storage facilities were proposed, and deep Q-learning network (DQN) was applied to optimize the control of SWSS. In this study, the pressure, the water age in the roof water tank, and the power consumption of the pumps were selected as the optimization objectives. The equation for the qualitative selection of the key hyperparameter (Gamma) was proposed and verified by the experiments in a community of City S in East China. The results indicated that with the decrease in the volume of the water tank, the larger Gamma value was recommended, and the more future conditions were considered. It is hoped that the result can be used as a reference in SWSS operation optimization.

Efficient Energy Management for the Smart Sustainable City Multifloor Manufacturing Clusters: A Formalization of the Water Supply System Operation Conditions Based on Monitoring Water Consumption Profiles

This study is devoted to improving the energy efficiency of urban infrastructure systems (UISs), in particular, the centralized water supply of a city multifloor manufacturing cluster (CMFMC), by developing the principles of effective energy consumption management. The CMFMCs are located in the residential area of a megapolis and include manufacturing and service enterprises, residential and non-residential buildings, and a city logistics node. Demand monitoring and identification of the influence of seasonal and social environmental factors on its fluctuations is considered as a tool for identifying changes in the operating conditions of the water supply system (WSS) for the CMFMC facilities. To identify the typical operating conditions of water supply facilities, an approach is proposed that involves the analysis of daily water consumption profiles (WCPs). The formation of a database, the formation of groups of the same type of daily WCPs, and the construction of typical daily WCPs for typical groups and their description are the main stages of the proposed approach. The database contains a set of classification characteristics that describe the daily water consumption and its unevenness, as well as the shape of the daily WCP. The principal component analysis was applied to determine the dominant components of daily water consumption. A set of morphometric parameters was used to describe the shape of the daily WCPs. The methods of cluster and discriminant analysis were used to identify the influence of seasonality and social factors on water consumption and to form groups of the same type of daily WCPs. The analysis of sets of similar type of daily WCPs for typical days of typical seasons was carried out for a formalized description of the typical operating conditions of water supply facilities. The results of the analysis are the clarification of the equations of the dominant components of daily water consumption, the determination of the average values of the characteristics of daily water consumption, and the construction and description of typical daily WCPs for typical operating conditions of water supply facilities. The research results were obtained on the basis of the data of the monitoring systems for water supply enterprises in Ukraine and Poland in 2021–2022. The obtained results are the basis for planning the water supply process and adjusting the operation modes of WSS pumping stations for the CMFMC, as well as planning power consumption for typical operating conditions, which will contribute to increasing the efficiency of water and electricity use.

Water infrastructure resilience and water supply and sanitation development challenges in developing countries

Abstract Water supply and sanitation development in developing countries, specifically in Ethiopia, appear to be making substantial progress. Governments, international organizations, and other organizations are contributing to the development of water supply and sanitation systems. Water supply and sanitation challenges are linked to climate change effects and the quest for climate-resilient development. This paper evaluates the current challenges in water supply and sanitation development in developing countries and infrastructure resilience. The research is based on the data collected throughout the practical development task. Some of the findings were the climate change effect and temporary adaptation mechanisms, such as intermittent supply causing further pressure variation and water loss in the system. Resilient water supply and sanitation development require an integrated approach based on practical experiences, the latest technological development in water supply and sanitation system operation and management tools, and climate change adaptation. A seamless understanding of engineering, management, and technology is required for the development and management of water supply and sanitation systems. Dispersed skills may be available that were not effective at this time, which calls for a different approach to training provision and skill development as a package on design, management, and recent technological support.

Determination of reliability conditions of reversible water supply systems in thermal power engineering

Today, the most important issues in the national economy of Ukraine are the issues of continuous, reliable and safe operation of reversible water supply systems, namely power units of thermal electric stations and heating plants of industrial enterprises. Trouble-free and reliable operation of water supply systems ensures the normal operation of social and household and industrial enterprises, as well as the safe operation of fire protection systems, which can be disrupted when the supply of a quality product to the consumer is stopped. For the purpose of research to determine the conditions of the reliability of reversible water supply systems in thermal power engineering, as well as the impact of risks in these systems on the reliability of reversible water supply systems, it is proposed to determine the states in which any water treatment system can be and the risks in water treatment systems that are technogenic in origin, and the consequences are ecological. The analysis of the obtained results showed that the states in which the water treatment system can be divided into three classes in accordance with the regulatory documents on the definition of technogenic risks in water treatment systems: class 1 (limit state) - the system works in normal mode, all blocks and elements work without failures and crashes; class 2 (critical state) - the system works in offline mode, some units or elements of the system work in partial failure mode; class 3 (dangerous state) - the system practically does not work and does not purify water, some blocks or elements of the system are in a state of failure. The risks that arise during the operation of water treatment systems and which can be used to assess their technogenic safety can be defined as: a) the probability of this system supplying raw water to the consumer as a result of the failure of blocks and elements of this system - state 3 - dangerous; b) the probability of this system supplying the consumer with poor-quality water as a result of partial failures and freelance work of units and elements of this system - state 2 - critical; c) the probability of this system supplying raw water to the consumer when the system is in state 1 - limiting, due to the natural inertia inherent in the specific physical and chemical processes on which the actual system operates.

Criteria of quality and efficiency of water supply systems functioning

The system of main criteria of quality and efficiency characterizing the operation of water supply systems (WSS) on the time interval [0,T] is considered. The article introduces a number of new criteria for assessing the quality and efficiency of the functioning of water supply systems. In general, this system of criteria for the quality and efficiency of the functioning of WSS was effectively used both in simulation modeling and in the implementation of developments at real facilities. It is advisable to use it in the development and operation of systems for the operational control of technological processes of the functioning of WSS, in the simulation of decisions made on the operational control of the modes of operation of WSS, in the simulation of designed and reconstructed WSS, in the analysis of a specific situation on the network at a given point in time.

METHOD FOR CALCULATION OF DISPERSIONS OF DEPENDENT VARIABLES OF A STOCHASTIC MODEL OF QUASI-STATIONARY OPERATING MODES OF THE MAIN WATER PIPELINE

The subject of research in the article is a stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of water supply and distribution systems, which adequately describes the actual operating modes of the water supply system for a given time interval and can be used as a basic model for setting and solving problems of optimal stochastic control of the development and operation of supply and distribution systems. water. The goal of the work is to develop a method for calculating estimates of the dispersions of dependent variables depending on the given values of mathematical expectations and dispersions of independent variables for a stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of the main water conduit as a subsystem of the water supply and distribution system. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to build a deterministic equivalent of a stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of the main water conduit; calculate estimates of mathematical expectations of dependent variables; calculate estimates of variances of dependent variables. To calculate estimates of the variances of dependent variables depending on the variances of independent variables, we will use the method of statistical linearization. To obtain estimates of mathematical expectations of dependent variables, the deterministic equivalent of the stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of the main water conduit is solved by the modified Newton method. The following results are obtained: a method for calculating estimates of the dispersions of dependent variables for a stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of the main water conduit. Conclusions: the paper proposes an approximate method for calculating the statistical properties of dependent variables depending on the statistical properties of the parameters and independent variables of the stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of the main water conduit. The proposed method is based on the construction of a deterministic equivalent of a stochastic model of quasi-stationary modes of operation of the main water conduit and its use for calculating estimates of variances of dependent variables depending on the given values of mathematical expectations and variances of independent variables. Compared with the simulation method, the proposed approximate method does not require significant time and computational resources. The use of the proposed method was demonstrated by an example.

PROBLEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

The article justified the urgency of ensuring the environmental safety of water intake and treatment facilities in water supply systems by creating a complex of specialized protective equipment. The operation of water supply systems was analysed, as a result of which it was determined that the environmental safety of water intakes was insufficient. To solve this problem, the scientific justification of the ecologically sustainable operation of the natural-technical system of the specialized type "natural water environment - water management complex - agricultural water supply system" was carried out. The proposed systematic approach to solving the vital problems of ensuring the environmental safety of water intake facilities of water systems is to provide high-quality water to consumers in any operating conditions (mud, suspension) of agricultural water supply systems. At the same time, the complex of water and intake treatment facilities improves the river ecosystem.

Multilevel Partitioning with Multiple Strategies for Complex Water Distribution Network

The operation and dispatching of large-scale water supply systems is becoming more and more complex, and effective partitioning is a good response measure to this increasing complexity. This paper presents a multilevel partitioning method using freely configurable strategies suitable for multiobjective situations such as allocation of water sources, pressure regulation, and flow measurement. The method mainly relies on two strategies. Using Strategy A, water supply features are constructed based on water sources and a partition clustering is implemented that is suitable for the overall partitioning of a water supply from multiple sources. Using Strategy B, important pipes are first extracted to simplify the search path and then various constraints (pressure boundary, flow shunt, cross-river management) are used to select control points and partition by graph theory searching. This strategy is suitable for refining partitioning of the structure of a specific source. A combination of the aforementioned strategies was applied to the first-level and second-level partitioning in a case study. By flexibly configuring strategies and constraints, good partitioning is achieved and multiple management goals are accomplished satisfactorily. This research enhances understanding of the operational issues in complex water systems. The overall management of water networks can be disassembled into tasks at all levels and with their own objectives performed in stages. The solution provided in this study has the advantages of flexibility and effectiveness for a variety of complex water distribution situations, contributing insights into the real challenges of partitioning large water distribution networks.