Relieving pressure: Optimizing water distribution pressure management at Valley of the Moon Water District

摘要

Efficient pressure management helps reduce water loss, through leaks and bursts. Water Network operators must maintain a delicate balance to provide the required level of service. Several network components such as valves, and pumps affect pressure in water networks The research article describes how a pressure management solution with advanced optimization techniques and algorithms was created and successfully applied to improve the pressure management in the Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD), a water utility in Sonoma County, California. The paper describes the challenges in previous pressure management methodology and its drawbacks. A first-order Taylor approximation algorithm was created that could provide recommendations on how to optimally set the valves of VOMWD's network and its various objectives. The algorithm was solved using a MILP solver. The paper also describes some of the required additional components as system review. The implementation process and the solution benefits have been discussed.