Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization Approach to Designing Water Supply Systems in Non-Coastal Areas Suffering from Water Scarcity

  • Published:
Water Resources Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article presents a novel optimization approach to designing water supply systems in non-coastal areas with water scarcity. In such areas, high water demand caused by population increases and economic development can only be satisfied with seawater supply. Furthermore, most of the non-coastal users are located at long distances and sometimes at altitudes very diverse from the coastline, meaning long pipelines and several pumping stations will be required to effectively supply water. The proposed optimization approach based on a mixed integer nonlinear programming model offers optimal designs of water supply systems from an economic and technical perspective. It determines the location and size of desalination plants and the design of the water transport network including pipelines of specified length and diameter and pumping stations that minimize capital and operational costs of the whole system. A case study in a hyper-arid region of Chile was used to validate the applicability of the proposed model and the results show its aptitude for determining global optimal solutions to real-scale problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A i, j :

discrete variable of pipe area (m)

A d :

parameter of pipe area (m)

\( {\boldsymbol{C}}_{\boldsymbol{so}}^{\boldsymbol{max}} \) :

maximum capacity of RO plant so (m3/s)

D d :

parameter of pipe diameter (m)

D i, j :

discrete variable of pipe diameter (m)

dr :

discount rate (y−1)

DY n, j :

continuous variable extra (m−5)

E c :

electric cost (US$/kWh) = 0.12

f :

friction factor (dimensionless) = 0.02

F A :

rate of days worked in a year (dimensionless) = 1

F D :

rate of hours worked in a day (dimensionless) = 1

g :

constant of gravitational acceleration (m/s2) = 9.8

H i, j :

hydraulic head from node i to j (m)

H j :

the pressure required in the terminal node j (m)

inv :

investment years (y)

k n :

capital cost parameter of pumping stations (US$/\( {\mathrm{kW}}^{m_n} \)) = 2.25

k P :

cost parameter of the pipes installation (US$/\( {\mathrm{m}}^{m_p} \)) = 1.5

L i, j :

length of pipe from node i to j (m)

m n :

capital cost parameter of pumping stations (dimensionless) = 1

m p :

cost parameter of the pipes installation (dimensionless) = 1

P n :

power of the electric motor (kW)

Q i, j :

desalinated water flow pumped from node i to j (m3/s)

\( {\boldsymbol{Q}}_{\boldsymbol{si}}^{\ast} \) :

desalinated water flow delivered to node si (m3/s)

\( {\boldsymbol{Q}}_{\boldsymbol{so}}^{\ast} \) :

desalinated water flow produced for node so (m3/s)

R si :

desalinated water flow required for node si (m3/s)

T :

quantity of hours in a year (h/y) =8760

TC :

total cost of the system (million US$/y)

TC i, j :

capital costs annualized of the pipes (million US$/y)

TC n :

capital and operational costs of the pumping stations (million US$/y)

v max :

maximum linear velocity into pipes (m/s)

\( {\boldsymbol{y}}_{\boldsymbol{i},\boldsymbol{j},\boldsymbol{d}}^{\hbox{'}} \) :

binary variable to select diameter d to the pipe from node i to j (dimensionless)

y i, j :

binary variable to select the existence of the pipe from node i to j (dimensionless)

Δ Z i, j :

altitude difference between node i and j (m)

η :

efficiency of the electric motor (dimensionless) = 0.9

ρ :

water density (kg/m3) = 1000

References

  • Al-Nory MT, Brodsky A, Bozkaya B, Graves SC (2014) Desalination supply chain decision analysis and optimization. Desalination 347:144–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atilhan S, Linke P, Abdel-Wahab A, El-Halwagi MM (2011) A systems integration approach to the design of regional water desalination and supply networks. Int J Process Syst Eng 1(2):125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atilhan S, Mahfouz AB, Batchelor B, Linke P, Abdel-Wahab A, Nápoles-Rivera F, El-Halwagi MM (2012) A systems-integration approach to the optimization of macroscopic water desalination and distribution networks: a general framework applied to Qatar’s water resources. Clean Techn Environ Policy 14(2):161–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balfaqih H, Al-Nory MT, Nopiah ZM, Saibani N (2017) Environmental and economic performance assessment of desalination supply chain. Desalination 406:2–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barau AS, Al Hosani N (2015) Prospects of environmental governance in addressing sustainability challenges of seawater desalination industry in the Arabian Gulf. Environ Sci Pol 50:145–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bragalli C, D’Ambrosio C, Lee J, Lodi A, Toth P (2012) On the optimal design of water distribution networks: a practical MINLP approach. Optim Eng 13(2):219–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Cen G, Hong C, Liu J, Lu S (2018) A metric model on identifying the national water scarcity management ability. Water Resour Manag 32(2):599–617

  • Cisternas LA, Gálvez ED (2014) Chile’s Mining and Chemicals Industries. Chem Eng Prog 110(6):46–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Cisternas LA, Gálvez ED (2017) The use of seawater in mining. Miner Process Extr Metall Rev 39(1):18–33

  • Cisternas LA, Lucay F, Gálvez ED (2014) Effect of the objective function in the design of concentration plants. Miner Eng 63:16–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke JDA (2006) Antiquity of aridity in the Chilean Atacama Desert. Geomorphology 73(1):104–114

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Ambrosio C, Lodi A, Wiese S, Bragalli C (2015) Mathematical programming techniques in water network optimization. Eur J Oper Res 243(3):774–788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon RE (2013) Northern Chile and Peru: a hotspot for desalination. Desalin Water Treat 51(1–3):5–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Rubio MA, Guardiola J (2012) Desalination in Spain: A growing alternative for water supply. Int J Water Resour Dev 28(1):171–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaffour N, Missimer TM, Amy GL (2013) Technical review and evaluation of the economics of water desalination: current and future challenges for better water supply sustainability. Desalination 309:197–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Bravo R, Nápoles-Rivera F, Ponce-Ortega JM, El-Halwagi MM (2015) Involving integrated seawater desalination-power plants in the optimal design of water distribution networks. Resour Conserv Recycl 104:181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Bravo R, Nápoles-Rivera F, Ponce-Ortega JM, El-Halwagi MM (2016) Multiobjective Optimization of Dual-Purpose Power Plants and Water Distribution Networks. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 4(12):6852–6866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gude VG (2016) Desalination and sustainability–an appraisal and current perspective. Water Res 89:87–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera S, Cisternas LA, Gálvez ED (2015) Simultaneous design of desalination plants and distribution water network. Comput Aided Chem Eng 37:1193–1198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knops F, Kahne E, Mata MGDL, Fajardo CM (2013) Seawater desalination off the Chilean coast for water supply to the mining industry. Desalin Water Treat 51(1–3):11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kondili E, Kaldellis JK, Papapostolou C (2010) A novel systemic approach to water resources optimisation in areas with limited water resources. Desalination 250(1):297–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Konstantopoulou F, Gikas P, Papageorgiou LG (2011) A mixed integer optimisation approach for integrated water resources management. Comput Chem Eng 35(5):858–875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Papageorgiou LG, Gikas P (2012) Integrated management of non-conventional water resources in anhydrous islands. Water Resour Manag 26(2):359–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammedi K, Talamali A, Smaili Y, Saadoun I, Ait-Aider A (2013) Environmental impact of seawater desalination plants: case study in Algeria. Am J Environ Prot 2(6):141–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nápoles-Rivera F, Serna-González M, El-Halwagi MM, Ponce-Ortega JM (2013) Sustainable water management for macroscopic systems. J Clean Prod 47:102–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nayyar ML (2000) Piping handbook, 7th edn. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Northey SA, Mudd GM, Saarivuori E, Wessman-Jääskeläinen H, Haque N (2016) Water footprinting and mining: Where are the limitations and opportunities? J Clean Prod 135:1098–1116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira LS, Cordery I, Iacovides I (2009) Coping with water scarcity: Addressing the challenges. Springer Science & Business Media, Dordrecht

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Samra S, Abood M (2014) NSW reference rates manual - valuation of water supply, sewerage and stormwater assets. Department of Primary Industries, a division of NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, Sydney. http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/549598/nsw-reference-rates-manual-valuation-ofwater-supply-sewerage-and-stormwater-assets.pdf

  • Shahabi MP, McHugh A, Anda M, Ho G (2017) A framework for planning sustainable seawater desalination water supply. Sci Total Environ 575:826–835

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swamee PK, Sharma AK (2008) Design of water supply pipe networks. Wiley, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tenne A, Hoffman D, Levi E (2013) Quantifying the actual benefits of large-scale seawater desalination in Israel. Desalin Water Treat 51(1–3):26–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wittholz MK, O'Neill BK, Colby CB, Lewis D (2008) Estimating the cost of desalination plants using a cost database. Desalination 229(1):10–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y, Tol RS (2005) Evaluating the costs of desalination and water transport. Water Resour Res 41:W03003. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003749

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank CONICYT and the Regional Government of Antofagasta for their funding through the PAI program (Anillo Project ACT1201) and to CICITEM for their funding through projects R10C1004 and R15A20002.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Mineral Process, Universidad de Antofagasta, Angamos avenue 601, Antofagasta, Chile

    Sebastián Herrera-León, Freddy Lucay & Luis A. Cisternas

  2. Center for Scientific and Technological Research in Mining, CICITEM, Antonio José de Sucre 220, Antofagasta, Chile

    Sebastián Herrera-León & Luis A. Cisternas

  3. School of Business and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Skinnarilankatu 34, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Sebastián Herrera-León & Andrzej Kraslawski

  4. Department of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego Street, Lodz, Poland

    Andrzej Kraslawski

  5. Department of Metallurgy and Mining Engineering, Universidad Católica del Norte, Angamos avenue 0610, Antofagasta, Chile

    Edelmira D. Gálvez

Authors
  1. Sebastián Herrera-León
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Freddy Lucay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrzej Kraslawski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luis A. Cisternas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Edelmira D. Gálvez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis A. Cisternas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Herrera-León, S., Lucay, F., Kraslawski, A. et al. Optimization Approach to Designing Water Supply Systems in Non-Coastal Areas Suffering from Water Scarcity. Water Resour Manage 32, 2457–2473 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-018-1939-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-018-1939-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation