Sensitivity analysis of municipal drinking water distribution system energy use to system properties

Abstract

Municipal Drinking Water Distribution Systems (MDWDSs) consume a significant quantity of energy to transport water, thereby exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. The current study is a sensitivity analysis that uses a network solver to quantify energy savings due to the alteration of three system properties—system-wide water demand, storage tank parameters (maximum water level, diameter, elevation), and pumping stations (horsepower, number of boosters, and their locations) of seven diverse MDWDSs. It was found that a 50% reduction in water demand, main pump horsepower, and booster horsepower resulted in an average energy savings of 47, 41, and 9.5% respectively, for the seven systems analyzed. Other properties examined showed insignificant savings. Even though an individual system analysis is more conclusive, this sensitivity analysis can guide optimization studies to focus on the most sensitive properties.

Keywords:

• drinking water
• distribution
• sustainability
• energy
• climate change
• storage

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Sustainable Futures Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) project sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) (under Grant No. DGE 0333401). The research outcomes are the views of the authors and not those of the NSF. The authors sincerely acknowledge the comments of anonymous reviewers.