Operating Modes and Connectivity Matrices for Water Distribution Systems

An alternative transport layer for water quality models is described which relies on actual flow data obtained from a real-time SCADA system. Two of the central concepts of the new transport layer are operating modes and the connectivity matrix. An operating mode is defined as a pattern of flows in which all links in the network are assigned a flow direction. Criteria for determining the feasibility of operating modes are incorporated in a search algorithm that finds all the feasible operating modes for a network without recourse to full enumeration. The algorithm is able to make inferences in flow directions in links that have not been established directly from the SCADA data. The connectivity matrix summarizes the combined effects of these feasible operating modes. The resulting connectivity matrix can be used to determine potential sources and the dispersal of water quality constituents as demonstrated in an example. Finally, the impacts of the proposed SCADA-driven transport model on the selection (design) of network geometry, the placement of valves, and placement of monitoring equipment are discussed briefly.