Enhanced WDN Hydraulic Modelling and Detection of Burst Leakages

Bursts are generally the natural evolution of background leakages, driven by external factors, and entail major water outflows, which cause changes of WDN hydraulic functioning that are detectable as anomalies in monitored flow/pressure data. Active leakage control strategies aim at prompt detection, localization and repair of pipe bursts, thus reducing possible damages to private/public properties, minimize unplanned works, and reduce volume of water lost. Enhanced hydraulics implemented in the Leakage Control module of the WDNetXL system can support various active leakage control actions ranging from the design of effective pressure sampling system up to prioritizing of pipes to survey. WDNetXL is a software system for water distribution network analysis, planning and management distributed as MS-Excel® add-ins. The paper presents the main features of hydraulic and topology analyses in WDNetXL supporting Leakage Control module. The pressure sampling design and the burst leakage detection and localization described using a simple network, the Apulian.