EXPLORE: expert system for water networks management

An expert system called EXPLORE has been developed to manage the Seville City water supply system. The main difficulties are: the lack of information on management procedures, the complicated electrical tariff, the dynamical character of the water network and the dependency of the water demand that is a major uncontrollable factor. EXPLORE reduces the cost of operation derived from the pumps to the different water storage tanks; for this task EXPLORE employs the water demand forecast to obtain an optimal pump daily schedule. EXPLORE has several additional benefits to collect the operator experience. EXPLORE also permits the refinement of operation processes through the simulation of new strategies and provides the training for novice operators. The system has been applied to the management of the Seville City water supply system. EXPLORE has been tested reaching a great improvement in electrical cost (a saving of 25% concerning the current operation satisfying water demand)