Energy and Hydraulic Efficiency in Intermittent Operation of Water Distribution Networks
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 148, Issue 5
Abstract
Water distribution is an important service due to its economic, social, and health purpose. Therefore, a continuous supply is required to keep consumers satisfied. However, emergency scenarios of water scarcity, caused by recurrent or exceptional droughts, can impair supply, forcing intermittent operation. This operation has clear disadvantages, such as the increased risk of pathogen intrusion and pipe bursts during filling. However, a reduced number of operation hours, mainly during high-pressure periods, can significantly reduce leakage. It is helpful to preserve the quantity and quality of the main water source during a longer period to maintain its multiple purposes. Considering this new operation, pump stations must be adapted, and energy consumption can significantly increase if an optimal schedule is not determined. Accordingly, this paper studies different levels of intermittency as a strategy to operate under severe water scarcity conditions and identify the gains that can be made in leakage reduction, combined with optimal pump operation, to maintain operational costs at the same level, or better, as continuous operation.
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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 including EPANET models.
Acknowledgments
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 148 • Issue 5 • May 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 22, 2021
Accepted: Jan 16, 2022
Published online: Mar 11, 2022
Published in print: May 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Aug 11, 2022
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