ABSTRACT
This chapter develops a novel heuristic strategy to improve the operation resiliency of any existing water network by relaxing the active constraints identified in the optimal solution of the flexibility index model. It outlines two alternative computation strategies that can be taken to evaluate the steady-state flexibility indices of given water networks: flexibility index models derived from the active set method; and flexibility index models derived from the vertex method. The chapter presents a programming approach to assess the operational flexibility of given water networks. The flexibility of a given water network can be improved by relaxing the upper limit of the freshwater supply rate and/or incorporating structural modifications. In the proposed computation procedure, the flexibility index of a revamped network is calculated by the existing network and a collection of new pipelines and/or new treatment units, which are chosen from the outset.
