Studying the Effects of Private Water Storage Tanks on Pump Scheduling Optimization and Leakage Control

Syed Abbas Hussain Rizvi (), Rabee Rustum, Luigi Berardi, Grant Wright, Scott Arthur and Daniele Laucelli
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Syed Abbas Hussain Rizvi: Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Energy, Geosciences, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai P.O. Box 38103, United Arab Emirates
Rabee Rustum: Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Energy, Geosciences, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai P.O. Box 38103, United Arab Emirates
Luigi Berardi: Department of Engineering and Geology, D’Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara, 66013 Chieti, Italy
Grant Wright: Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Energy, Geosciences, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Scott Arthur: Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Energy, Geosciences, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Daniele Laucelli: Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Technical University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: The use of pumps in water distribution networks is very useful when there is a need for additional pressure head. However, the functioning of pumps can be influenced by the presence of private storage tanks in the network, which alters the way the users draw water due to their compensation ability. This condition is very common in areas affected by the historical scarcity of water resources or intermittent supply (Mediterranean Area, Arabian Peninsula, etc.). This paper studies the effects of private tanks on the performance of pumps in a network model, considering different retention times and evaluating possible effects on background leakages. A sample network and two real water distribution networks in the UAE will be analyzed. The results show that low retention time (i.e., 12 h) leads to a decrease in pump running time, thus lowering the energy consumption and carbon footprint, which gives a sustainable solution. These results, therefore, suggest that considering the presence of private storage tanks for the pump design in network models is of crucial economic importance, as well as for efficient designs and sustainable water distribution systems.

Keywords: water distribution network; pump scheduling; private tanks; energy consumption; carbon footprint; pressure-driven analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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