Abstract
This study introduces an approach to plan future water rates to achieve water distribution system (WDS) sustainability triple-top line (TTL) targets. The WDS components are modeled by connecting the EPANET hydraulic model with multiple interconnected subsystem models in a hybrid-system dynamics configuration. The approach is demonstrated with the hypothetical network, U-City, to optimally set the user fee to maximize a TTL sustainability index (). Overall, three demonstrations were performed to test the model: (1) identifying the influence of water price elasticity (WPE); (2) sensitivity to a water price adjustment in rate and time; and (3) optimal planning of a water price adjustment strategy. The first demonstration illustrated that neglecting WPE leads to an overestimation of revenue. The second demonstration confirmed that aggressive water pricing does not lead to increased . Finally, the third demonstration showed that frequent and lower water price increases are more favorable for a higher WPE to create a sustainable system. In summary, the proposed approach can provide a useful way to analyze future water rates to maximize the sustainability of a WDS.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request (part of the H-SD and TTL code and the ECLIPS data).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 147 • Issue 2 • February 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 16, 2019
Accepted: Aug 17, 2020
Published online: Dec 11, 2020
Published in print: Feb 1, 2021
Discussion open until: May 11, 2021
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Computer models
- Contracts and subcontracts
- Elastic analysis
- Engineering fundamentals
- Fees
- Financial management
- Hydraulic models
- Infrastructure
- Models (by type)
- Practice and Profession
- Pricing
- Structural analysis
- Structural engineering
- Sustainable development
- Traffic engineering
- Transportation engineering
- Trip distribution
- Water and water resources
- Water management
- Water supply
- Water supply systems
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