New Method for Analyzing and Estimating Water Demand and Sizing Drinking Water Distribution Networks

In the context of drinking water network management, the accurate estimation of flow rates at various system nodes is a central concern. This assessment is critical to ensuring stable, reliable distribution that meets users’ actual needs. However, the traditional methods used to date exhibit certain weaknesses when it comes to taking into account unpredictable variations in consumption or losses that can occur throughout the network. In light of these limitations, a new approach has been developed to provide a more appropriate response to these challenges. This method is based on more detailed modeling, integrating not only the physical and technical constraints related to network hydraulics, but also the uncertainties inherent in consumption behavior. By combining these elements, it allows for a more realistic and dynamic assessment of flow rates, facilitating optimal infrastructure design. To test the robustness of this method, a comparative hydraulic simulation was conducted on a model representing a real urban distribution network in real operation. The results obtained confirmed the value of this approach, highlighting a significant improvement in the accuracy of water flow estimation at different points in the network. This increased accuracy translates into better intervention planning, more precise adaptation to the needs of the areas served, and optimized resource management, particularly in urban environments where constraints are greater and demands are more fluctuating.