Calculation of usable volume of the network equalizing tanks in view of the current state of knowledge

Abstract

The role of water companies is to ensure a continuous supply of water of adequate quantity, quality, and pressure, taking into account the economic aspect of the operation. Being aware of the responsibility they have, these companies are working to ensure certainty of water supply, among other things, by storing water in network tanks. However, designers of such tanks rely on outdated patterns of hourly water distribution developed in the second half of the last century, imprecise guidelines or design tanks meeting the investor’s wish according to the principle – “the bigger, the better”. Thus, it is often the case that these tanks are oversized and therefore difficult to operate. This leads to the question – do designers of water supply systems, especially those located in rural areas, currently, have the ability to calculate the optimal usable volume of network equalizing tanks? This article aims to review the current knowledge of the problem under analysis. Thus, the legal provisions and guidelines were taken into account, as well as the results of studies and recommendations of various authors/researchers dealing with this subject