Core-periphery structure for district metered areas partitioning of urban water distribution systems

As urban areas expand and water demand intensifies, the need for efficient and reliable water distribution systems becomes increasingly critical. A widely used infrastructure management approach involves partitioning water distribution networks (WDNs) into district metered areas (DMAs). However, if not well designed, DMA partitioning can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs. This paper presents a core-periphery-informed approach to DMA design, explicitly utilising the natural division between a densely connected core and a sparsely connected periphery. Incorporating this structural framework enhances network resilience, improves water pressure stability, and optimises boundary device placement. The proposed core-periphery-informed DMA design follows a multi-step process that integrates hydraulic and topological analysis to identify central and peripheral network areas. A community structure detection algorithm is applied, conditioned by these areas, followed by an optimisation model to determine the optimal placement of boundary devices. This enhances network resilience and reduces costs. Applied to the WDN of Modena, in Italy, the proposed approach demonstrates superior performance in maintaining stable pressures and achieving cost savings compared to traditional methods. Overall, the findings highlight the practical benefits of core-periphery-based DMA design, offering a scalable and data-driven solution for urban water distribution systems.