Application of Linear Programming in the Efficient Management of Water Resources for Urban Supply
This work presents an application of Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) in the efficient management of water resources for urban supply. Based on the analysis of recent studies, the model by Korotaj and Vasak was selected, which addresses the predictive control of water distribution systems through sequential linear programming. The study was adapted and formulated as a linear optimization problem with binary variables representing pump activation decisions and continuous variables for flow rates, tank levels, and losses. The implementation was carried out in the GAMS environment using fictitious data to simulate operational conditions of a simplified system composed of one tank and two pumps in parallel. The objective was to minimize the total cost, considering time-varying electricity tariffs and costs associated with water losses. The results showed that the model found operational strategies that prioritize the use of stored volume, activating pumps only when necessary, ensuring adequate tank levels, and minimizing operational costs.