Water quality could vary within the water distribution system due to internal or external contamination. Thus, it is very important to examine water quality at selected locations of the distribution network to ensure safe water will be delivered to the end users. Water quality in water distribution system needs to be sampled at locations, which are representative of the whole network. These locations of water quality monitoring stations should be located such that water quality in the network is represented with a minimum number of monitoring stations due to economical reasons. Presently, no guideline describes how these sampling locations are optimally identified. In this paper, a new methodology is developed based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) to help identify optimum water quality stations in water distribution system. The algorithm is illustrated with the help of a hypothetical case. Copyright ASCE 2004.
