"This study reviews the experience of Maynilad, the Philippines’ water service company, in the application of hydraulic modelling for pressure management and optimisation. Reliability of water supply and pressure is critical in customer service. However, this reliability can be significantly influenced by water supply inefficiencies such as leaks, pipe bursts, fluctuating pressure, and insufficient supply. The paper describes the hydraulic modelling techniques and methodologies employed by Maynilad in its objective to manage the fluctuating pressure experienced in the Regalado Hydraulic System. The full benefit of pressure management for Maynilad is realised through the reduction of leaks, reduction of frequency of bursts, and provision of consistent service level to customers, which in turn could lead to water supply recovery and prolonged useful life of pipes.
Optimal pressure as defined by Maynilad is the balance between the fulfilment of the aforementioned benefits and the improvement of billed volume. The calibration of the water distribution model involves the determination of Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) locations and settings, valve status, and District Metered Area (DMA) boundaries. A calibrated network hydraulic model of Regalado Hydraulic System is optimised, and the charted results demonstrate the success of the proposed techniques."