Intelligent management of pressure and leakage reduction in water supply network by WaterGEMS; Case study: integrated water supply in South Khorasan Duhsaran

Water supply networks as a hydraulic transmission and distribution system has been always the focus of researchers. Water transmission in networks is due to energy difference (pressure head). However، the added pressure in networks causes undesirable leakage، which is directly related to the pressure. Leakage always ends in lack of water resources and exerts pumping، treatment and water transfer costs on producers and this amount of water exits the consumption cycle. In this study one of water supply networks of South-Khorasan Rural Water and Wastewater Company is selected. The purpose of research is pressure and leakage control، so a conventional demand-based approach (DDSM) is chosen، since in this method the demand is fixed in the nodes. This model was hydraulically analyzed using WaterGEMS. So PRV-valves are installed in critical points and are time-adjusted in order to provide standard pressure in all network nodes. Then the effect of intelligent pressure-management on network is evaluated. Then its influence on leakage control was investigated. Results showed that intelligent pressure-control by valves is a suitable method for optimal management of water consumption and causes significant reduction in network leakage، so that with 14. 23 percent decrease in average pressure، the amount of 26585 cubic meters water saved (15. 75 percent) and 27. 44 percent of leakage decreased.