Reliable Optimal Design and Operation of Multiquality Networks: Unsteady Conditions

Reliability is an integral part of all decisions regarding water distribution system layout, design, operation, and maintenance. Providing reliability for water distribution systems is complicated due to the many factors that affect reliability, the inherent nonlinear behavior of the system and its consumers, and due to the different conflicting objectives facing a water distribution system utility. Although water distribution systems' reliability has received considerable attention over the last two decades, there is still no common acceptable reliability measure or reliability assessment methodology. This paper describes a new approach for simultaneous optimal design and operation of water distribution systems, taking explicitly into account water quality considerations and the system reliability. The methodology is demonstrated through an example application.