The Methods Used for Reliability Analysis of Water Distribution Networks: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Reliability of Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) has been a major concern for ensuring public health, safety, and societal welfare. The hydraulic approach for reliability analysis of WDNs and how this approach has evolved over the years is discussed. This paper then examines the conceptions of the topological reliability of WDNs that have been advocated during the past two decades. Moreover, the underlying principles of the hydraulic and topological approaches are presented and contextualised in:

(1) what exactly these approaches are,

(2) what motivated the developments of different methods,

(3) what are the strengths and the weaknesses of these methods.

Finally, the future evolution of reliability analysis of WDNs will be proposed as the forthcoming works.

Keywords: Hydraulic approach; Reliability analysis; Topological approach; Water distribution networks