Hybrid Leakage Management for Water Network Using PSF Algorithm and Soft Computing Techniques

Reduction of leakages in water distribution system (WDS) is one of the major concerns for water industries. This paper presents a hybrid leakage reduction model using pressure management technique, performed by optimizing water storage level in the tank, along with optimized control and localization of pressure reducing valve (PRV) in water distribution system. Pattern Sequence-based Forecasting (PSF) algorithm is used for prediction of flow rate (demand) from the tank for next 48 h, to calibrate the future desire water storage level in the tank. A mathematical tank and pump simulation algorithm is proposed for optimization of water storage level in the tank. A modified reference pressure algorithm is proposed for efficient localization of pressure reducing valve. Multiobjective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is used for finding out the optimized operational control setting of the pressure reducing valve for leakage minimization. The proposed algorithm leads to better leakage reduction of 20.81% in modified benchmark WDS, with a reduced number of the pressure reducing valves. Constraints such as maintaining lower hydraulic failure index (<0.01), emergency water storage, etc. is also considered. It can be concluded that the proposed hybrid leakage reduction technique provides efficient as well as cost-effective solution for leakage control.     

Influence of Intermittent and Continuous Modes of Water Supply on Domestic Water Consumption

In developing countries, water distribution systems are designed for continuous water supply (CWS) with peak factor between 2.0 and 3.0. While in practice, water is supplied for restricted hours in the morning and evening hours for various reasons. One of the assumption is that under intermittent water supply (IWS), water consumption in residential areas is less compared to CWS. A study was conducted in four Indian cities to evaluate influence of IWS and CWS on domestic water consumption. The selected water distribution system (WDS) represents specific situation in each city. Water consumption data was repeatedly collected through water meter readings in all the cities. The same WDS was switched over to CWS for few months with prior information to the residents. Water consumption was again measured under CWS mode of operation. Statistical analysis of water consumption was done for all the four cities under both modes of operation. The study indicates that domestic water consumption depends on adequacy of water supply, under IWS mode of operation. Water consumption do not change appreciably under CWS, if consumers water demand is satisfied under IWS.     

Sustainability Assessment of Urban Water Distribution Systems

A methodology is presented for determining sustainability indices for pressure and water age in water distribution systems (WDSs). These sustainability indices are based upon performance criteria including reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability. Pressure and water age are determined for a WDS as a function of operation time using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPANET model. The values of pressure and water age are used to determine reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability performance criteria, which are then combined into the nodal sustainability indices for water age and pressure. In addition, the sustainability index (SI) computations are performed for zones to define the SI for water age and SI for pressure. A combined SI calculation is performed to produce an overall sustainability score for the entire zone in the water distribution network. The proposed methodology can be used to monitor the sustainability of existing WDSs and to help define alternative solutions including changes in pump operation and modifications to WDS to increase the sustainability.     

Technical and Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Water Distribution Systems

An environmental and technical sustainability assessment methodology is developed for both centralized and dual water distribution systems (WDSs) with and without fire flow scenarios. Technical sustainability of potable and reclaimed water networks is measured by a sustainability index (SI) assessment using reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability performance criteria. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPANET software is used to simulate hydraulic (i.e. nodal pressure) and water quality (i.e. water age) analysis in a WDS. Total fresh water use and total energy intensity are considered as environmental sustainability criteria. The procedure considers two separate alternatives for meeting fire flows: (1) adding pumping to a system or (2) adding a non-potable WDS. The reclaimed system is designed using linear programming (LP) optimization. For each alternative, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is used to combine technical and environmental sustainability criteria for an urban WDS.     

Automatic Multiscale Approach for Water Networks Partitioning into Dynamic District Metered Areas

Water distribution systems (WDSs) today are expected to continuously provide clean water while meeting users demand, and pressure requirements. To accomplish these targets is not an easy task due to extreme weather events, operative accidents and intentional attacks; as well as the progressive deterioration of the WDS assets. Therefore, water utilities should be ready to deal with a range of disruption scenarios such as abrupt variations on the water demand e.g. caused by pipe bursts or topological changes in the water network. This paper presents a novel methodology to automatically split a WDS into self-adapting district metered areas (DMAs) of different size in response to such scenarios. Complex Networks Theory is proposed for creating novel multiscale network layouts for a WDS. This makes it possible to automatically define the dynamic partitioning of WDSs to support further DMA aggregation / disaggregation operations. A real, already partitioned, water utility network shows the usefulness of an adaptive partitioning when the network is affected by an abnormal increase of the peak demand of up to 15%. The dynamic DMA reuses the assets of the static partitioning and, in this case, up to the 82% of resilience is restored using 94% of the assets already installed. The results also show that the overall computational and economic management costs are reduced compared to the static DMA partition while the hydraulic performance of the WDS is simultaneously preserved.

     

Improving Consumer Satisfaction in Water Distribution Networks Through Optimal Use of Auxiliary Tanks (A Case Study of Kashan City,Iran)

Temporal and spatial variations in pressure may lead to consumer dissatisfaction and distrust of water distribution networks when it comes to reliable performance. Pressure management is a set of programs and operations conducted in water distribution networks to adjust the pressure. Constructing new auxiliary tanks in proper locations at the best height for the area they serve minimizes the pressure fluctuations. Additionally, chlorine is often injected in the reservoirs and tanks to improve the water quality. The goal of this research was to improve the condition of the network by adding auxiliary tanks with appropriate locations, heights and chlorine concentration. An optimization model is prepared to optimize consumer satisfaction, water quality and the relevant costs as objective functions. The performance of the models are evaluated by a selected case study; and the objectives are optimized in three scenarios. Using the proposed model in a water distribution network, a trade-off diagram of reliability and costs is obtained, that lets the decision makers select the proper options considering the available fund. A new indicator, the consumer satisfaction index, is also proposed as a way to evaluate the performance of water distribution networks.     

Modularity-Based Procedure for Partitioning Water Distribution Systems into Independent Districts

A proper division of a Water Distribution System (WDS) into District Metered Areas (DMAs) provides important management benefits particularly with regard to leakage detection through water balances, control and optimization of pressure so as to reduce leakage, implementation of monitoring, warning and emergency acting systems against accidental or intentional water contamination. This paper presents a new methodology that combines a suitable modularity-based algorithm for the automated creation of DMA boundaries and convincing practical criteria for the DMA design. A further plus of the proposed methodology is its ability to identify many technically feasible solutions that can be subsequently economically assessed. The successful applications of the proposed methodology to a real case study, already tested by other authors, has proven its effectiveness for the DMA design in existing water distribution systems.     

Pressure Management Model for Urban Water Distribution Networks

A technique for leakage reduction is pressure management, which considers the direct relationship between leakage and pressure. To control the hydraulic pressure in a water distribution system, water levels in the storage tanks should be maintained as much as the variations in the water demand allows. The problem is bounded by minimum and maximum allowable pressure at the demand nodes. In this study, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based optimization model is used to develop the optimal hourly water level variations in a storage tank in different seasons in order to minimize the leakage level. Resiliency and failure indices of the system have been considered as constraints in the optimization model to achieve the minimum required performance. In the proposed model, the results of a water distribution simulation model are used to train an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. Outputs of the ANN model as a hydraulic pressure function is then linked to a GA based optimization model to simulate hydraulic pressure and leakage at each node of the water distribution network based on the water level in the storage tank, water consumption and elevation of each node. The proposed model is applied for pressure management of a major pressure zone with an integrated storage facility in the northwest part of Tehran Metropolitan area. The results show that network leakage can be reduced more than 30% during a year when tank water level is optimized by the proposed model.     

管网故障水力瞬变检测实验系统研发

为克服传统管网故障检测系统模型校验误差较大及基于恒定流模型检测的不足,尝试基于瞬变流模型方法设计开发一种能够兼顾模拟泄漏孔、局部阻塞在内的管网实验平台系统,用于水力建模的校验测试和故障检测,并提出相应故障辨识方法。该平台包括常规供水水箱、简单管网、实验控制系统、变速泵、管网故障模拟装置、低强度瞬变流激发器等,以RSView组态软件为基础研发了管网故障水力检测实验平台的SCADA系统,实现水位、流量、压力和阀门激励动作等计算机自动控制以及实时监测和采集。其中新的可控式低强度瞬变流激发器可取代传统阀门,能够产生阀门关闭激发瞬变水击波的类似效果,克服了传统管道试验平台末端关阀造成的水锤压力波动过大和不易控制的缺点。该实验平台拓展了管网实验室故障控制模拟和检测的思路,为支撑和推广实用化的智慧供水管网及故障检测技术研究提供了手段。     

Investigating Energy Flow in Water-Energy Storage for Hydropower Generation in Water Distribution Systems

Quantifying excess energy using an energy balance model is the key to designing and operating an energy-efficient water distribution system (WDS). Excess energy, which can be recovered instantly or stored in a water-energy storage is the basis to estimate hydropower potential in the system. For a given WDS with its demand, how the excess energy can be managed efficiently to design a water-energy storage to maximize hydropower generation is the focus of this paper. A single-objective optimization model has been developed to optimize the dimensions for up to six water-energy storages for maximizing hydropower generation while minimizing the pumping energy. While the ratio of total energy recovered to total pumping energy is found to be about 40% for all water-energy configurations, the recovered specific energy ranges from 0.116 kWh/m³ to 0.121 kWh/m³ showing the potential use of WDS as an energy storage. Results show that hydropower generation increases with the increase of number of storages up to a certain number representing the constraints of constant drinking water demand and storage dimensions. In-pipe turbines with pump operation for minimizing pumping energy can offer the optimal solution for WDS energy management. A higher number of storages with in-pipe turbines offers uniformity in pressure distribution resulting increase in system robustness.

     

An Efficient Approach for Nodal Water Demand Estimation in Large-scale Water Distribution Systems

Water Resources Management - Real-time modeling of a water distribution system (WDS) is a critical step for the control and operation of such systems. The nodal water demand, as the most important...     

Integrated Decision Support System for Prognostic and Diagnostic Analyses of Water Distribution System Failures

This paper presents an innovative decision support system (DSS) for prognostic and diagnostic analyses of water distribution system (WDS) failures. The framework of the DSS is based on four novel models developed and published by the authors of this paper. The four models include reliability assessment model, leakage potential model, leakage detection model, and water quality failure potential model. Information obtained from these models together with external information such as customer complaints, lab test results (if any), and historical information are integrated using Dempster-Shafer (D-S) theory to evaluate prognostic and diagnostic capabilities of the DSS. The prognostic capabilities of the DSS provide hydraulic and water quality states of a WDS whereas the diagnostic capabilities of the DSS help to identify the failure location with minimal time after the occurrence and will help to reduce false positive and false negative predictions. The framework has ‘unique’ capacity to bring the modeling information (hydraulic and Quality), consumer complaints, historical failure data, and laboratory test information under a single platform to perform a prognostic and diagnostic investigation of WDS failures (hydraulic and Quality). The proof of concept of the DSS has been demonstrated using data used in published four articles. The outcomes of this research widely addressed the uncertainties associated with WDS which improves the efficiency and effectiveness of diagnosis and prognosis analyses of WDS. It is expected that the developed integrated framework will help municipalities to make informed decisions to increase the safety, reliability and the security of public health.     

Evaluating Water Quality Failure Potential in Water Distribution Systems: A Fuzzy-TOPSIS-OWA-based Methodology

The goal of a water distribution system (WDS) is to deliver safe water with desirable quality, quantity and continuity to the consumers. In some cases, a WDS fails to deliver safe water due to the compromise/ failure of water quality which may have devastating consequences. The frequency and consequence of a water quality failure (WQF) can be reduced if prognostic analysis and necessary remedial measures are taken on time. This study developed a prognostic model to predict WQF potential in a WDS. The study identifies important factors (parameters) which can directly and/or indirectly linked to WQFs. These factors are classified into two groups—the causes of WQF such as lack of free residual chlorine, or excess of total organic carbon, and the symptoms of WQF such as taste & odor, color which are in fact the effects of certain causes of WQF. The interrelationships among the symptoms and the causes have been established based on extensive literature review and elicited expert opinion. A fuzzy-TOPSIS-OWA-based model has been developed to identify the impacts of different influencing parameters on the overall WQF potential. The developed model has been implemented for a WDS in Quebec City (Canada). To study the impacts of uncertainties of the influencing factors, a Monte Carlo simulation-based sensitivity analysis has been carried out. It is anticipated that the developed model can help water utilities to understand the role of different factors on WQF.     

Optimal Location and Setting of PRVs in WDS for Leakage Minimization

Water loss is an issue that affect Water Distribution Systems (WDSs) very often, especially when aged and high pressure occurs. Pressure reduction valves (PRVs) can be used as devices to reduce as much as possible the water losses within the network. Indeed, for a given number of PRVs, the daily volume of water lost from the network can be reduced minimizing the pressure through a proper choice of valve positions as well as their settings. In this paper, a methodology for the optimal number, positioning and setting of PRVs is presented. In the proposed methodology, a genetic algorithm is coupled with a physical modelling of leakage from joints and a simplified and yet realistic hydraulic simulation of the WDS. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using two WDSs examples. Comparisons with a more extreme and complicated hydraulic modelling, already proposed by authors in previous work, are also performed in the first case study in order to validate the proposed methodology. These comparisons demonstrate that the methodology proposed in this work performs fairly well when compared to similar approach that uses a more sophisticated hydraulic model. As a consequence, it revealed to be a good tool for the optimal positioning and sizing of PRVs within WDS aimed at reducing the background leakages even when the WDS is characterized by complex geometry and topology.     

Penalty-Free Feasibility Boundary Convergent Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for the Optimization of Water Distribution Systems

This paper presents a new penalty-free multi-objective evolutionary approach (PFMOEA) for the optimization of water distribution systems (WDSs). The proposed approach utilizes pressure dependent analysis (PDA) to develop a multi-objective evolutionary search. PDA is able to simulate both normal and pressure deficient networks and provides the means to accurately and rapidly identify the feasible region of the solution space, effectively locating global or near global optimal solutions along its active constraint boundary. The significant advantage of this method over previous methods is that it eliminates the need for ad-hoc penalty functions, additional ??boundary search?? parameters, or special constraint handling procedures. Conceptually, the approach is downright straightforward and probably the simplest hitherto. The PFMOEA has been applied to several WDS benchmarks and its performance examined. It is demonstrated that the approach is highly robust and efficient in locating optimal solutions. Superior results in terms of the initial network construction cost and number of hydraulic simulations required were obtained. The improvements are demonstrated through comparisons with previously published solutions from the literature.     

A Framework of Identifying Critical Water Distribution Pipelines from Recovery Resilience

Water Resources Management - Identifying critical facilities in a water distribution system (WDS) from the standpoint of recovery resilience is significant for emergency inspection and restoration...     

Dealing with Data Missing and Outlier to Calibrate Nodal Water Demands in Water Distribution Systems

Water Resources Management - Model parameters of the water distribution system (WDS) such as nodal water demands, should be carefully calibrated by measurements. However, the inconvenience of data...     

Optimal Pressure Regulation in Water Distribution Systems Based on an Extended Model for Pressure Reducing Valves

Optimal pressure regulation to reduce water losses in water distribution systems (WDSs) becomes an important concern due to the increasing water demand and the threat of drought in many areas of the world. The leakage amount in a WDS depends heavily on its operating pressure and thus can be minimized by implementing optimal pressure strategies through pressure reducing valves (PRVs). To achieve this, a model-based optimization is necessary, where an accurate model of the PRVs is required. The PRV models having been used until now for pressure regulations are two-mode models which cannot circumstantiate many situations occurring in WDSs. In this paper, we extend the existing model by a three-mode one for PRVs which is able to describe the required circumstances of pressure regulations in WDSs. The non-smoothness of this model is smoothed by an approximation approach, thus allowing the formulation and solution of a continuous nonlinear optimization problem for optimal pressure regulation. Two benchmark WDSs are used to verify our approach and it can be shown from the results that our PRV model outperforms the existing models in terms of the quality and accuracy of the optimal solutions.

     

Isolation of Free Living Amoebas as a Highly Sensitive Index of Water Contamination

Abstract

Safe drinking water is a rare commodity in India. Several water borne diseases are commonly reported from metropolitan cities of India, most likely due to unsatisfactory disinfection of municipal water. The analysis of the microbiological flora of the water supplied for drinking purposes shows that New Delhi water is biologically contaminated. Six hundred water samples obtained from New Delhi residential complexes included 96 from direct taps, 310 from overhead tanks used for storing the same water for urgent needs, and 194 were from water filter residues. The samples were repeatedly collected in every season for two consecutive years. Ninety percent of the water samples were found to be biologically contaminated. Most contaminated samples were from overhead water tanks (97.4 percent) and from filter residues (94.5 percent). Even direct tap water was found to be contaminated in more than 50 percent of the samples. The most common isolates were from the protozoan category, the free living amoeba (90.1 percent) and by aerobic bacteria (73.0 percent). Overhead tank water samples were co-contaminated with as many as 15 microorganisms. Isolation of free living amoebae was found to be the most sensitive tool of analyzing the water safety. It is proposed that after determining the microbiological contamination, the public health laboratories should modify the existing technique and must perform the cultures for free living amoebae on non-nutrient agar in addition to the standard coliform test.     

Multiobjective Memetic Algorithm Applied to the Optimisation of Water Distribution Systems

Finding low-cost designs of water distribution systems (WDSs) which satisfy appropriate levels of network performance within a manageable time is a complex problem of increasing importance. A novel multi-objective memetic algorithm (MA) is introduced as a solution method to this type of problem. The MA hybridises a robust genetic algorithm (GA) with a local improvement operator consisting of the classic Hooke and Jeeves direct search method and a cultural learning component. The performance of the MA and the GA on which it is based are compared in the solution of two benchmark WDS problems of increasing size and difficulty. Solutions that are superior to those reported previously in the literature were achieved. The MA is shown to outperform the GA in each case, indicating that this may be a useful tool in the solution of real-world WDS problems. The potential benefits from search space reduction are also demonstrated.