This report presents an optimal control methodology designed to reduce the electrical consumption and operating costs at Army water supply pumping stations.

The methodology, contained in a computer program called Optimal Control of Pumping Stations (OCOPS), enables water utility managers and operators to reduce the electrical consumption at pumping stations while maintaining adequate storage and system pressures for fire protection. OCOPS can be applied to any water distribution system and is not limited to any number of pumps, pump stations, or storage tanks within the system.

The optimal control strategy developed is based on electricity unit charges, but can be modified to include electrical demand charges. OCOPS was applied to the Fort Hood, TX water distribution system to demonstrate the effectiveness and capabilities of the model. OCOPS calculated optimal pumping costs nearly identical to actual costs (within 3 percent), indicating that Fort Hood is already operating at the optimal level.