Integrated Optimization of Water Main Renewals and Capacity Improvements to Minimize Life-Cycle Cost, Redcliffe, Qld Australia

In partnership with Unitywater, WCS Engineering employed intelligent algorithms and cloud computing to optimise water main renewals and capacity improvements in the Redcliffe service area, Queensland. driven optimisation approach to address water supply challenges in Redcliffe, Queensland. By integrating both objectives into a single analysis using Optimiser WDS™, the project assessed hundreds of thousands of scenarios to determine the most cost-effective strategies for addressing hydraulic deficiencies and renewing ageing infrastructure. This approach minimised life-cycle costs while enhancing service levels and accommodating future growth.

The optimisation analysed alternatives covering over 60 km of water mains with the network, incorporating upgrades to address peak hour deficiencies, fire flow criteria, and renewal of cast iron and asbestos cement mains exceeding 60 years old. Sensitivity analyses highlighted the critical role of friction factors, with updated methodologies significantly improving hydraulic performance predictions.

A prioritised 10-year implementation schedule was developed, averaging approximately $6.5M annually. Key milestones included resolving 95% of fire flow deficiencies by 2026 with $26.5M in total investment and fully addressing all modelled deficiencies by 2051 with $46.5M of total investment. The program also reduced the prevalence of cast iron mains over 60 years old by 66%, while maintaining the network’s average age at 45 years.

This project not only demonstrated the financial and operational benefits of integrated optimisation but also established a robust methodology for balancing immediate infrastructure needs with long-term planning that will be adopted by Unitywater for the remainder of their total service area. The approach demonstrates how utilities can leverage data-driven strategies to future-proof their networks, providing significant value for both customers and stakeholders while advancing sustainable asset management practices.