Cost minimizing water main quality index: A static cost minimization approach

Our paper focuses on the issue of obsolete water mains which is the main cause of water loss in developed countries. We determine the cost-efficient water mains quality index according to different parameters such as the cost of water supply, the demand for water and the cost of good quality water mains. We use French and American data for parameter calibration and conduct simulations to test the consistency of our theoretical model. We show that the difference in water abundance, water mains material and demand for water are key drivers in determining the cost-efficient water mains quality index.