Optimization of Water Distribution Systems: A Review

A water distribution system (WDS), being a system of interconnected hydraulic elements ensures water distribution and supply to satisfy demands while optimization is applied in many systems and situations, thus making it an important paradigm in technology. When we try to optimize, we either minimize (resource consumption, cost) or maximize (profit, system performance). This paper reviews optimization of water distribution systems and presents different aspects of WDSs. It also presents the different optimization methods in a detailed manner. Finally, modern sophisticated optimization methods are refined enough to solve complex real-world problems such as WDS design and operations. The categories of challenges being solved include: new WDSs design; expansion and revamping of existing WDSs; pump operation; water quality management; calibration and system partitioning. Reliability, robustness and resilience considerations are often encountered in WDS literature and are still open to analysis because there is no generally acceptable model for permanent inclusion in WDSs optimization.