Page 332 - Water Loss Control

CHAPTER 18

Controlling Real Losses—

Pressure Management

Julian Thornton
Reinhard Sturm
George Kunkel, P.E.

18.1 Introduction
System optimization is in many cases far more cost-effective than system expansion
and most certainly always has a much more positive environmental impact. Many
water systems are designed considering the minimum level of pressure required for
the demand types, but in many cases no consideration is made for maximum pressure
levels. If no consideration or only basic consideration was made at the time of instal-
lation then there may very well be room for opti-
mizing the pressures within a system. Pressure
management is one of the most basic and cost-
effective forms of optimizing a system and can in Many systems are designed
many instances provide fast paybacks on large with minimum pressure
investments. requirements in mind but not
Figure 18.1 shows where pressure management maximum pressure limitations
fits into the four-component scenario of real losses therefore many systems have
management. areas, which are grossly over
Pressure management has been around for
pressured.
many years in various forms, however it is only in
the last few years that, advanced pressure control
has been used on a wide basis in system optimiza-
tion and loss reduction and management programs.
This chapter takes the reader through all plan- Pressure management is
ning stages of a pressure control scheme from decid- one of the most basic tools
ing whether or not it is necessary for his or her available for total real loss
system and to what degree, to cost justification and management.
practical field installations.

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