With the rapidly growing urbanization, it is crucial to ensure optimum utilization of water supply system. Optimization models for urban water supply system are being used in many modern cities, whereas it is absent in developing countries like Bangladesh. An optimization model for a water supply network of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) was developed and presented in this book. Linear programming approach was followed to develop the optimization model and run using LINDO software. A small administrative unit - Uttara thana of Dhaka city was selected as study area where water supply comes from 15 Deep Tube Wells (DTWs). The objective of the model was to optimize cost of water production from different production wells. The model results showed that maximum 57 % of actual cost could be reduced by using DTW scheduling through the optimization model. One of the important outputs of the model was the scheduling of DTW operation, which gave combination of DTWs to be operated to minimize cost. Although some assumptions were made in the model due to unavailability of records, this optimization model will open the future path in effective decision-making of DWASA.

Mohammad Aminur Rahman Shah is a Program Officer of IUCN Bangladesh, having experience in natural resource management,climate change adaptation and disaster management. Dr. Muhammad Shah Alam Khan is a Professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, having experience in water-related natural disasters and coastal zone management.