Management and Optimization of Water Distribution Networks
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydraulics and Hydrodynamics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2026 | Viewed by 133
Special Issue Editors
Interests: analysis and design of hydraulic systems; hydraulic elements; system operation and maintenance; water services management; efficient water use; water and environmental policy; energy efficiency in pressurized water networks; infrastructure asset management (IAM)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, entitled “Management and Optimization of Water Distribution Networks”, addresses the main challenges related to and recent advances in the efficient, reliable, and sustainable operation of water distribution systems. It focuses on integrated management strategies that combine pressure control, energy-efficient pumping operation, and advanced hydraulic regulation to reduce losses, optimize energy consumption, and improve overall system performance. Particular attention is given to the use of Variable Speed Pumps (VSPs) and Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) as key operational tools for adapting network behavior to variable demand conditions.
From a methodological perspective, this Special Issue promotes hydraulic network modeling and the development of digital twins, including their real-time integration with operational data, as fundamental tools for advanced system operation. These approaches enable continuous monitoring, scenario simulation, and dynamic system optimization, supporting decision-making in both short-term operation and long-term planning.
Furthermore, this Special Issue emphasizes Infrastructure Asset Management as a framework for defining optimal asset renewal strategies based on available system information, such as pipe age, failure history, and failure prediction models. This approach enables objective investment prioritization by integrating hydraulic, energy, economic, and risk-based criteria, enhancing the long-term sustainability and resilience of water distribution networks.
Prof. Dr. Javier Soriano Olivares
Guest Editor
Dr. Roberto Del Teso
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- pressure management
- leakage control
- energy efficiency
- pumping systems
- infrastructure asset management
- digital twins
- resilience
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
