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Pressure-Pipe Breaks Relationship in Water Distribution Networks: A Statistical Analysis

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Abstract

Maximum pressure is a crucial factor in pipe break events. In this paper, a field data-based methodology is proposed to statistically investigate the relationship between operating pressures and pipe break rates in water distribution networks. The objective is to develop the pipe break rate functions (BRFs) where a maximum pressure indicator (MPI) is associated with an average level of pipe break rates. The methodology uses measured pressure values at the average zone point to calculate MPIs along with recorded pipe breaks to establish BRFs for different pipe materials. The Bayes theorem is then applied to identify the maximum pressure thresholds on the BRFs by means of the unconditional and break- conditioned cumulative distribution functions of the MPIs. The methodology is applied to a large zone of the water distribution network of Tehran (Iran). The results showed that the annual average of the MPI is the best indicator to develop BRFs. The obtained pressure thresholds confirm that the break rates increase rapidly for specific maximum pressure ranges, which can be used to implement effective pressure management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    Iman Moslehi & Mohammadreza Jalili_Ghazizadeh

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  1. Iman Moslehi
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  2. Mohammadreza Jalili_Ghazizadeh
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Correspondence to Iman Moslehi.

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Moslehi, I., Jalili_Ghazizadeh, M. Pressure-Pipe Breaks Relationship in Water Distribution Networks: A Statistical Analysis. Water Resour Manage 34, 2851–2868 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-020-02587-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-020-02587-4

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