Modelling the Leakage Rate and Reduction Using Minimum Night Flow Analysis in an Intermittent Supply System

Abstract

A significant portion of the water supplied to people doesn’t reach its valid users but instead leaks out of the distribution network, causing water wastage, revenue loss and contamination risks. This paper analyses the leakage rate, leakage components and leakage reduction potential. A minimum night flow (MNF) analysis was carried out on a district metered area (DMA) in an intermittent supply system in Zarqa, Jordan. Leakage was modelled and leakage reduction policies were analysed. Results show that MNF occurs at night or during day time depending on the water levels in customer tanks, implying that one-day MNF analysis cannot be carried out in intermittent supplies and the estimation of the legitimate consumption during MNF is more influential. The potential water savings of the different leakage reduction measures (pressure management; leakage detection; response time minimization) are separately analysed in the existing models in the literature, leading to significant overestimation of the total leakage reduction potential, while these measures are influencing each other. Pressure reduction lowers the failure frequencies but limits the potential of leakage detection surveys, as leaks will become harder to hear and detect. Investigating the inter-dependency relations of these measures is therefore essential for reasonable leakage reduction modelling and planning.

An Improved Genetic Algorithm for Optimal Layout of Flow Meters and Valves in Water Network Partitioning

“…In contrast to Ferrari et al [21] and Brentan et al [43], we try not to make the original flow velocity deteriorate, especially for pipes that originally had a low flow velocity. More attention can be paid to better execute pressure management [44] or more quickly detect and control accidental events (e.g., pipe bursts and water contamination) in future research.…”

A review of nonrevenue water assessment software tools

“…CheckCalcs use the uncertainty analysis, with a similar approach to error propagation theory, to generate uncertainties for identifying the opportunity of pressure management and its influence on reducing the leaks, the bursts, and the consumption (N 1 , N 2 , and N 3 , respectively). It is, however, a key limitation for CheckCalcs and the remaining tools that they do not recognize the uncertainties of the water balance because the water balance is critically influencing all aspects of water loss management intervention and has a great implication on the estimated benefits of each intervention (AL‐Washali, Sharma, Kennedy, et al, ). It should be noted that CheckCalcs is just one free tool of many commercial tools that form one package (LeaksSuit) for leakage management.…”

Water Loss Assessment in Distribution Networks: Methods, Applications and Implications in Intermittent Supply

“…Secondly, NRW should be broken down into components using different methods . Following that, NRW components and subcomponents can be prioritised for intervention measures and to minimise losses in the system (Al-Washali et al 2020b;AL-Washali et al 2019b). Dividing the network into DMAs is the key to leakage control (Farley and Trow 2003;Galdiero et al 2015;Kesavan and Chandrashekar 1972).…”