Simulating the Integrated Management of Assets of Water Distribution Networks and Urban Wastewater Collection Systems Using Dynamic Modeling of Vensim Software (Case Study of Tabriz City)

Abstract

Improving the management of water resources on a global scale is critical at this time. The risks that water bodies are currently exposed to, whether due to climate change or human conditions, affect the availability and quality of water in watersheds around the world. However, water management has emerged as a complex problem. In this light, one of the most promising methods is the construction of dynamic simulation models that may include the largest possible number of variables, not just hydrological. This paper presents a decision support system for the integrated management of water distribution and wastewater collection networks. The proposed method uses system dynamics (simulation with Vensim software) to integrate water and sewage networks with financial and socio-political sectors, which allows the rate adjustment and planning of integrated operational and capital infrastructure of water and sewage in three provinces of the Tabriz region during their life cycle (50 years). The results show that the integrated framework enables the company to accelerate financing for capital and operational works and improve the level of integrated services due to the integration of financial resources of water and sewage. In practice, the proposed integrated framework empowers water and wastewater utilities to manage and plan their assets in an integrated approach to improve the infrastructural, financial, and socio-political performance of their water and wastewater assets compared to separate management. Physical asset management is the only way for water and sewage companies to solve financial, social and infrastructural problems. The sewerage network studied here needs a little more capital work to meet the deficit policy lever of very damaged pipes compared to the water distribution network, which is in a relatively better condition. Implementing a borrowing management strategy for the sewer network to accelerate capital work, a proactive management strategy for the water distribution network should be implemented with the necessary cash reserves for any future setbacks.

Keywords

• integrated asset management
• system dynamics
• wastewater collection
• water distribution
• vensim