Field Validation of Hydraulic Model-Based Leak Localization Methods in the Water Supply Network.

<p dir="ltr">Hydraulic model-based leak localization methods are increasingly critical for water utilities, as prompt detection and accurate localization of leaks support efficient network management. Their performance, however, is influenced by multiple factors, including hydraulic model accuracy, leak size and location, demand variations and, sensor placement. To systematically investigate the influence of these factors and provide insights for real-world application, this study proposes a Design of Experiments (DOE) framework for validating two hydraulic model-based leak localization methods, the Tuned Sensitivity Matrix Method (TSMM) and the Iterative Regularized Inverse Method (IRIM) as introduced by Liu, et al. [1] in an operational water distribution network.</p><p dir="ltr">This paper was presented at the 21st Computing and Control in the Water Industry Conference (CCWI 2025) at the University of Sheffield (1st - 3rd September 2025).</p>