Document Type : Technical note
Authors
1
M.Sc. Graduate, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran Email: e.fadaei@uk.ac.ir
3
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
10.22034/arwe.2026.2082723.1049
Abstract
Nowadays, the optimal management of urban water distribution networks has become a fundamental challenge for water and wastewater companies. Excessive pressure within a network not only accelerates the deterioration of infrastructure and increases the probability of pipe bursts but also leads to a significant rise in leakage. This study investigates the effect of using Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) on pressure control and leakage reduction in water distribution systems. Initially, to simulate the distribution network in WaterGEMS software, network specifications—including node locations, reservoirs, pipe material, and pipe diameters—were defined. Subsequently, the characteristics of the pipes and nodes were extracted using AutoCAD and ArcGIS software and incorporated into the model. The results demonstrated that by implementing pressure zoning and installing PRVs in the water distribution network, network losses can be reduced by 33%. Furthermore, this approach ensures the satisfactory hydraulic performance of the network in terms of pressure and flow rate at different times of the day, with the average network pressure decreasing by 19.17%. Based on the findings, the proposed strategy can be effective for the appropriate design and placement of PRVs in water distribution networks and for reducing system leakage.
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