Abstract

The innovation of electrical utilities in creating smart electrical grids has superseded that of water utilities in analogous efforts. While many water utilities are now using smart water technologies, they lack the virtual command center that allows for two-way communication for more effective forecasting, load balancing, preventive methods, emergency and master planning, and level of service delivery while ensuring environmental justice and enhancing the responsible use of resources. In this dissertation, I propose the idea of the Integrated Water Distribution System (IWDS) to overcome this challenge. IWDS coordinates management of water supply and demand in a way that benefits both the water utility and the customer. IWDS also allows for greater control over monitoring, operation and maintenance, security, asset management, artificial intelligence, and delivery of water in order to maximize economic, environmental, and social welfare. To provide a way forward for IWDS and bring water services onto a technological level equal to that of other infrastructure systems, I call for greater coordination and integration of smart water technology and data, including environmental justice evaluations, and improved customer engagement. As a demand side management (DSM) tool and smart water technology component of IWDS, smart irrigation controllers (SICs) have the potential to ensure water utilities are resilient to growth and can manage peak day demands. SICs, which interface with soil moisture, evapotranspiration, or weather sensors, have been promoted as a demand-side management tool for this purpose. I review the body of research on residential smart irrigation controllers and their effectiveness. I find that smart irrigation controllers consistently reduce water demand by 15% among general users and more than 40% among indulgent users. A hydraulic model simulation using EPANET demonstrates the effectiveness of residential SICs in shifting and shaving peak demands associated with outdoor irrigation. The pressurized irrigation system for Highland, Utah, USA, is modeled with irrigation demands on a baseline scenario compared to an intervention scenario. By employing the intervention, the water system experiences many positive impacts. Without the peak shifting and shaving adjustments, costly additional capital facility improvements would be needed to maintain the same level of service. The model indicates that the SICs, if providing a 30% conservation effect (intervention scenario with SIC conservation), would shave the peak demand allowing for greater optimization and efficiency. This is the first hydraulic model analysis to demonstrate the DSM effectiveness of SICs.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2024-08-12

Document Type

Dissertation

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd13374

Keywords

Demand Side Management (DSM), Integrated Water Distribution Systems (IWDS), Smart Water Technology (SWT), Smart Water Management (SWM), Smart Irrigation Controllers

Language

english

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