Improving water management efficiency by using optimization-based control strategies: the Barcelona case study

This paper describes the application of model-based predictive control (MPC) techniques to the flow management in large-scale drinking water networks including a telemetry/telecontrol system. MPC technique is used to generate flow control strategies from the sources to the consumer areas to meet future demands, optimizing performance indexes associated to operational goals such as economic cost, network safety volumes and flow control stability. The designed management strategies are applied to a real case study based on a representative model of the drinking water network of Barcelona (Spain).