Optimal Exploitation of Urban Water Supply Networks Based on Pressure Management with the Nondominated Sorting Differential Evolution (NSDE) Algorithm

Abstract

Urban water distribution networks are crucial infrastructures for providing essential services to society, but their exorbitant costs and limited water resources make their optimization a critical research area. Optimal management and design of these networks can help to reduce costs and enhance their efficiency while meeting technical, economic, and quality standards. In particular, the management of network pressure is critical for reducing leakage in water distribution systems. Thus, this study aimed to investigate two objective functions for optimizing the water distribution network: (i) minimizing costs while considering the number of pressure-relief valves, and (ii) minimizing network pressure by observing the optimal pressure range. To achieve this, the Nondominated Sorting Differential Evolution (NSDE) multi-objective metaheuristic algorithm was employed as the optimization tool, and a computer program was written in MATLAB software for solving the optimization models. EPANET software was also used for hydraulic simulation of the water distribution network. The efficiency and capabilities of these models were tested on the case study of the third district of Mashhad in Iran. The results indicated that the installation and adjustment of pressure-relief valves in accordance with the positions and optimal settings of the output of the proposed models significantly improved the desired goals, particularly the average pressure of the network. As an example of optimization, the study achieved a 56.12% reduction in pressure compared to the case without a plan, considering five pressure-relief valves.