Automatic multiscale approach for water networks partitioning into dynamic district metered areas

This paper presents a novel methodology to automatically split a water distribution system (WDS) into self-adapting district metered areas (DMAs) of different size. Complex networks theory is used to propose a novel multiscale network layout made by landmark and key nodes for the water supply plus the hyper-links representing the connection between them. The proposed multiscale layout partitioning was tested on a real medium-size water distribution network. This is shown to naturally support further DMA aggregation / disaggregation operations with the direct benefit of providing a better dynamic system control and superior efficient water management than static DMA configurations, particularly in the case of abnormal functioning conditions. The proposed tool gives the possibility to automatically define a dynamic partitioning of WDSs according to spatial and temporal water demand variability, ensuring an efficient, sustainable and low-cost management of the system whilst simultaneously preserving the hydraulic performance of the WDS.