Optimization scheduling for multi-source water distribution systems in mountainous region based on seagull optimization algorithm

Multi-source water distribution systems (WDSs) are critical to solving the increasing demand for urban water supply. Appropriate management of limited resources necessitates optimization of water scheduling in order to reduce energy consumption. However, certain complexities of applying such systems bring severe challenges to optimal scheduling methods, exemplified in mountain regions, where larger elevation gradients make distribution more complicated than in plain regions. Therefore, this study attempts to present best practices in how to reduce the energy consumption of water supply, especially in complex mountainous regions, through innovation of optimal scheduling methods. Based on the seagull optimization algorithm (SOA), a systematic optimization scheduling method for multi-source WDSs is proposed. The optimization results are compared with those obtained from the genetic algorithm. A case study of such optimization in the mountainous region of C-County, China is presented. Power consumption prior and post optimization is compared. The results show that this optimization scheduling method is both effective and feasible. Annual power consumption can be reduced by significant amounts, savings of 23.3% in this case study, and the optimal solution can be deployed with 40 iteration steps.