Technical note: Graph-theory-based heuristics to aid in the implementation of optimized drinking water network sectorization

Abstract. Drinking water distribution networks form an essential part of modern-day critical infrastructure. Sectorizing a network into district metered areas is key technique for pressure management and loss reduction. existing from scratch is, however, exceedingly complex design task that designs in well-studied general mathematical problem. Numerical optimization techniques such as evolutionary algorithms can be used to search near-optimal solutions problems, but doing so within reasonable time frame remains ongoing challenge. In this work, we introduce two heuristic tricks use information the structure operational requirements drinking modify basic algorithm solve These not only reduce required find good also ensure these better match practice. Both were demonstrated by applying them sectorization actual large city.