**Preface XI**


Preface

layout.

for water supply systems analysis.

tion (system operation given a design).

**Figure 1.** Schematics of water distribution systems related problems.

This book incorporates selected topics on theory, revision, and practical application models

A water supply system is an interconnected collection of sources, pipes, and hydraulic con‐ trol elements (e.g., pumps, valves, regulators, tanks) delivering consumers prescribed water quantities at desired pressures and water qualities. Such systems are often described as a graph, with the links representing the pipes, and the nodes defining connections between pipes, hydraulic control elements, consumers, and sources. The behavior of a water supply system is governed by: (1) the physical laws which describe the flow relationships in the pipes and the hydraulic control elements, (2) the consumer demands, and (3) the system's

Management problems associated with water supply systems can be classified into: (1) lay‐ out (system connectivity/topology); (2) design (system sizing given a layout); and (3) opera‐

On top of those, problems related to aggregation, maintenance, reliability, unsteady flow and security can be identified for gravity, and/or pumping, and/or storage branched/looped water distribution systems. Flow and head, or flow, head, and water quality can be consid‐ ered for one or multiple loading scenarios, taking into consideration inputs/outputs as de‐

terministic or stochastic variables. Fig. 1 is a schematic description of the above.
