Optimal pump scheduling strategies accounting for background leakages and energy cost

Pumping optimization in water distribution networks means to schedule the ON/OFF status of pumps over a typical operating cycle, pursuing the minimum energy cost for pumping and matching technical requirements, e.g. sufficient pressure to satisfy customers' water requests, null water deficit at tanks, avoid complete emptying and overflows of tanks. In aged water distribution networks, pump scheduling should also minimize pressure-dependent leakages, entailing loss of water and energy, as well as asset deterioration. Although pumps are usually scheduled over time, controlling pump status by water level in tanks provides a more robust strategy in face of uncertain water demands. This work demonstrates that advanced hydraulic modelling, enabling the simulation of pressure-dependent background leakages and variable level tanks, allows optimizing levels in tanks that control pumps reducing energy costs for pumping and leakages, in a complex water distribution network.