Author(s): Carlos Jara-Arriagada; Ivan Stoianov

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: High-resolution pressure sensing; Pressure transients; Source localization; Urban water systems management; Water network monitoring; Water supply networks

Abstract: The increasing implementation of pressure control schemes in water distribution networks requires a continuous monitoring and localization of hydraulic instabilities or pressure transients. To locate these sources, we previously introduced a new method that considers the uncertainty in network connectivity. The method was formulated and tested with simulated transient data but it did not undergo empirical validation. In this study, our objective is to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method using a distinct dataset of hydraulic data from an operational network. We have tested the performance of the method under multiple recurring transient events generated by an industrial user. Our analysis showed that, despite the multiple uncertainties typical of operational networks, the method produced consistent results, with an average error of approximately 45 m. We also examined how the removal of sensors impacted the accuracy of the results. Our findings indicate that, in the current case study, the method remains reliable with as few as five pressure sensors. These results reconfirm the method's suitability for operational networks, enabling continuous and autonomous localization of sources of pressure transients, and improving the accuracy of hydraulic models’ connectivity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/iahr-hic2483430201-26

Year: 2024