A more realistic simulation of a real water distribution system based on an enhanced demand driven model

The simulation of a water distribution system is quite usually based on the working hypothesis of dividing the demand along the pipe into two equal parts which are then lumped into pipe's end nodes. This constitutes a simplification of the actual network topology which allows for a huge reduction of the number of network's nodes. However, this can introduce head loss errors due to the poor accuracy in the solution of the energy balance equation along the pipes. This paper shows the effect of this approximation comparing the scenarios returned by the application of the classical Global Gradient Algorithm and by an enhanced Global Gradient Algorithm. The enhanced Global Gradient Algorithm allows for the effective introduction of the lumped nodal demands, and without deteriorating the correct pipe head loss, by means of a pipe hydraulic resistance correction. The enhanced Global Gradient Algorithm and its classical solution are tested on a real water distribution network, where position and number of the connections to users/properties and their actual average demand are available.