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This paper presents a non-linear optimal control strategy for the operational management of water distribution networks (WDNs) including both flow and hydraulic head/pressure constraints. The optimal operation of WDNs should guarantee water supply with suitable pressures at all the demand nodes in the network. The challenge for non-linear model predictive control in this context is to compute control strategies for the pumps and valves in a WDN to supply the required demand while optimizing performance goals related to cost and safety. A two-layer scheme is used in order to produce set-points that can be directly sent to the actuators: on-off schedules for pumps and pressure set-points for pressures reducing valves. Finally, the results of applying the proposed control strategy to a portion of the Barcelona real WDN are provided.

Peer Reviewed