A Framework for Short-term Operational Planning for Water Grids

Water grids are emerging as a response to water scarcity in many urban areas. These grids are comprised not only of traditional surface and groundwater supplies, but also alternative, climate-independent water sources such as desalination and wastewater recycling, as well as one and two-way pipelines connecting surface-water supplies in different regions. The complexity and heterogeneity of these water supply networks brings new challenges to water management. Water managers need to determine strategies to operate the system in terms of multiple objectives, subject to uncertainty and boundary conditions relating to climate, demand and infrastructure. This paper outlines a framework of methodologies for developing optimal operating plans for short-term planning for water grids, in terms of the objectives of interest.