Improving operational efficiency by real-time in-network distribution system monitoring and hydraulic optimization

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In Ontario and globally, reduced water losses and energy savings from increased operational efficiency are common goals of drinking water distribution system modeling. Most water utilities have limited capabilities for on-line distribution system monitoring; most often only at the demand metered area level, making it hard to locate specific problem areas related to leakage, water age, and water quality. In this project, a real time distribution system monitoring and simulation platform will be developed using a newly developed, patented technology for real-time in-network distribution system pressure monitoring and a district metering area flow monitoring system together with a wireless communications data collection system that can be integrated into water utility supervisory control and data acquisition systems so that relevant data (e.g., power, pressure, level, flow etc.) can be instantly transferred to water utility hydraulic models. Coupling these data with demand forecasting and hydraulic model interfaces will enable a new operational tool for utility staff to review the impact of supply and distribution operational decisions. The ability to optimize operational decisions over the short term and hence solve challenging optimization problems in a very short amount of time is lacking from these systems and precludes real-time control. This research will develop a real-time optimization approach to address this problem. An optimization program will interact with a hydraulic model to automatically assess current conditions and provide supply and distribution recommendations to deliver optimal operational schemes to operations staff. A methodology for explicitly quantifying the relative and maximum benefits of real-time control and the application novel optimization algorithms will be key outcomes of this work. Using the City of Guelph as case study, the potential benefits are substantial. For example, a 10% power savings in water supply and distribution and a 2% reduction in water loss extrapolated across the province of Ontario represents a potential savings of 120 million kW-Hr of electricity per year.