Author(s): Helena Mala-Jetmarova; Adil Bagirov; Andrew Barton
Linked Author(s): Andrew Barton
Keywords: Water distribution systems; Multi-objective optimisation; Pump operation; Water quality; Tradeoff
Abstract: This paper describes the methodology for the multi-objective optimisation of operation of water distribution systems including two objectives. The first ‘economic’ objective is defined as pump energy costs, while the second ‘water quality’ objective as squared deviations of constituent concentrations from required values. The solution scheme integrates network analysis software EPANet with an optimisation model, which is implemented into optimisation software GANetXL. Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II is applied to solve the multi-objective optimisation problem. An example network, representing a regional water distribution system with different water quality sources and a number of customer groups with various water quality requirements, was selected from the literature. The results demonstrate that there is a significant tradeoff with a competing nature between economic and water quality objectives for this particular example network, which provides a scope for more informed decision making. The results also clearly demonstrate that adequate information can be provided to a decision maker for their decision making purposes. The paper concludes that further research is required in this area to investigate the nature of tradeoff between economic and water quality objectives for different types of water distribution systems.
Year: 2013