Integrated Resource Planning Distribution System Model (IRPDSM)

The Integrated Resource Planning Distribution System Model (IRPDSM) was initially developed by DCSE in 1998 to assist the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to improve their operational policies, to size future facilities, and to analyze alternatives in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This model is a comprehensive resource and supply distribution system model which simulates and optimizes deliveries and storage of imported water through the water distribution system.

The model accounts for regionally coordinated local water supplies and storage of imported water in local groundwater basins and the hydraulic and storage constraints that limit the movement of water through the distribution system.

IRPDSM is currently being used by IRWD to identify water sources, storage reservoirs, and connections between the different pressure zones, demand nodes, pumping capacities, and pipe sizes. IRPDSM uses the representative schematic to deliver water to meet demand up to the limitations of the existing system to convey that water.

DCSE has implemented IRPDSM to assist IRWD for developing a comprehensive water supply reliability study.

 The study would perform the following:

• Assess the likelihood of shortage/surplus for the existing system under different conditions such as supply source disruption, increased demand/or different weather patterns;
• The impact of proposed facilities (investment in infrastructure) on the system’s reliability,
• The impact of core supply (finding new sources) on the system’s reliability.
• DCSE is responsible for running IRPDSM model to obtain water supply reliability curves for IRWD.