A troubleshooting manual for handling operational problems in water pipe networks

The paper presents some of the most common operational problems in water pipe networks, studied in the water distribution system of Athens, the capital of Greece. The study, which took place from 1995 to 2000, concerning individual pipes of a network with a total length of 7,000 km, was based on the leakage and pipe break records kept by Athens Water Utility. The main outcome was an easy-to-use troubleshooting manual for handling operational problems in water pipe networks. This troubleshooting manual, as a product of applied research, is a knowledge base that can form the basis of an expert decision support system for detecting, identifying, studying and solving the problems that occur in a water distribution system.