Different Design Criteria for District Metered Areas in Water Distribution Networks

Abstract In this paper the influence of several factors to establish a suitable DMA design is considered using an adaptation of the methodology previously developed by Gomes [1] . This methodology is based on graph theory concepts (Floyd-Warshall algorithm) and some user-defined criteria to establish the number and size of DMAs and uses a Simulated Annealing algorithm to identify the most appropriate number and location of metering stations, boundary valves and network reinforcement/replacement needs along the project plan. Different design criteria are applied to a case study and the results obtained by the methodology are used to draw some conclusions.