Reliability metrics for permanent water network partitioning

<p>The reliability of water distribution networks (WDN) can be defined as the ability of the system to meet water demands under both normal and abnormal conditions (Bao and Mays, 1990). The measure of reliability is influenced by many factors: possible failure of one or more components, unusual high demand, connectivity of the network, poor water quality, etc. Although reliability of WDN was originally defined by Goulter (1987) and Walters (1988), measuring reliability is an open challenge for researchers. Consequently, there is no established measure of WDN reliability.</p><p>In recent years, many studies have attempted to mathematically define the reliability of water distribution networks and several synthetic indices are provided as proxy of reliability measures. The objective of this paper is to investigate the suitability of two of these metrics: one based on surplus of power head and other   on Shannon’s informational entropy for the assessment of reliability of partitioned water distribution networks (WDNs). The creation of permanent DMAs involves permanently an alteration of the WDN by closing multiple lines at the same time, and, therefore, it is a more severe test than those commonly used in the scientific literature where a little or no disruption occurs to the operation of the WDN (e.g., segment isolation or demand amplification). In addition, the two metrics were compared with other known indicators of hydraulic performance to determine which of them is better suited to evaluate the reliability of water network partitioning. For this purpose, a medium-sized water distribution network in South of Italy was used as case study and the hydraulic simulations were performed with a pressure-driven approach using EPANET2.2 software.</p><p> </p><p>References</p><p>Bao, Y., Mays, L.W. (1990). "Model for water distribution system reliability",  J. Hydrual. Eng., 116, 1119-1137</p><p>Greco, R., Di Nardo, A., Santonastaso, G.F (2012). "Resilience and entropy as indices of robustness of water distribution networks", J. Hydroinformatics, 14 (3), 761–771.</p><p>Gouher, I.C. (1987). "Current and future use of system analysis in water distribution network design", Civ. Engrg. Sys., 4(4), 175-184.</p><p>Walters, G. (1988). "Optimal design of pipe networks: a review." Proc.,1st Int. Conf. on Compo and Water Resour., Vol. 2, Computational Mechanics Publications, Southampton, U.K., 21-31.</p>