Identifying Risky Zones in Water Distribution Networks Using Node Burst Indices

This study presents an algorithm for identifying potential points of failure (leakage) in water distribution systems by evaluating the risk of pipe burst at each node. The algorithm calculates a burst index for each node using burst factors derived from the average District Metered Area (DMA) burst pressure and relevant parameters such as pipe length, age, and thickness. A sensitivity analysis based on pressure observations at the nodes under different leakage scenarios is conducted to identify deviations from the no-leak scenario. DMAs are then ranked according to their total burst risk, and nodes are partitioned based on their average DMA burst pressure. Although this algorithm may generate a larger number of candidate nodes than necessary due to the lack of optimization, its output can be used as input for sensor location optimization algorithms, reducing the search space for these algorithms.