Water Distribution Network Efficiency Optimisation with Resilience and Equity Quantification

The proposal focuses on addressing critical challenges in water distribution networks (WDN), recognizing its fundamental role as an essential service for society.

The WATER-RENEQ approach is a comprehensive methodology that optimizes WDNs by ensuring their response capacity to adverse events (resilience), guaranteeing equity for all users, and maximizing energy savings.

The first objective (O1) aims to establish a set of quantifiable indicators and performance indices that measure the operation of WDNs.

These indicators will encompass key aspects of resilience and equity while focusing on energy efficiency as a quantifiable metric. Objective two (O2) focuses on the development of an innovative mathematical model. This optimization model will calculate the indices defined in O1 within a WDN.

It will provide a practical methodology to evaluate and analyze WDN resilience, addressing both operational aspects and overall system performance. The third objective (O3) targets advancements in the computational efficiency of optimization algorithms. This involves reducing the number of discrete variables and optimizing the overall search space.

Improving computational efficiency is crucial for solving complex real-world optimization problems effectively. Objective four (O4) involves the development of an optimization tool that proposes investment strategies for WDNs.

The tool's primary goal is to maximize resilience and equity indicators within the network, even when budget constraints are present. This approach aims to provide a robust mathematical framework that considers resilience and equity criteria.

In summary, the proposal addresses fundamental challenges facing WDN by introducing an innovative approach to measure and improve resilience, equity, and energy efficiency, developing a computational tool that can be applied to real-world scenarios. Once the tool will be validated in a benchmarking network, this will be applied on a real WDN in a wter supply company.