Scenario optimization in complex water supply systems for energy saving and a correct management under uncertainty

The management of complex water supply systems needs a close attention to economic aspects concerning high costs related to energetic management. Specically, the optimization of water pumping plants activation schedules is an important issue, especially managing strategic and costly water transfers under drought risk. In such management context and under uncertainty conditions, it is crucial to assure simultaneously energy savings and water shortage risk alleviating measures. The model formulation needs to highlight these requirements duality: to guarantee an adequate water demands fullment respecting an energy saving policy. This modelling approach has been developed using a two stages scenario analysis with a cost-risk balancing approach, achieving simultaneously an energetic and operative costs minimization and assuring an adequate water demand level fullment for users. This model has been implemented using the software GAMS interfaced with CPLEX solvers. An application of the proposed optimization approach has been tested considering the draft of a real supply system located in a drought-prone area in North-Sardinia (Italy). By applying the optimization procedure, a robust decision strategy in pumping activation was obtained considering this real case study.