Scenario-based hydraulic resilience assessment and sensitivity-based monitoring framework for a gravity-based water distribution network: A case study in Al-Salt, Jordan
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Increasing water scarcity, urban growth, and operational uncertainty require water infrastructure systems capable of maintaining acceptable hydraulic performance under changing conditions. This study develops a scenario-based resilience assessment and hydraulic sensitivity-based monitoring framework for a gravity-based water distribution network using Naqab Al-Dabur, Al-Salt, Jordan, as a case study. The system serves approximately 5,000 inhabitants across 135 multi-family residential buildings and operates using an available elevation difference of approximately 53 m. An independently developed steady-state hydraulic model was established using Bentley WaterGEMS design information and validated against the exported Bentley WaterGEMS baseline solution. The validated model was applied to assess baseline (1.00×), future-growth (1.20×), maximum-day (1.50×), peak-demand-equivalent (2.00×), and single-pipe outage scenarios. The baseline model represented an assigned demand of 501.55 m³/day. Increasing hydraulic loading progressively reduced pressure margins, with minimum pressure decreasing from 2.44 bar under baseline conditions to 1.46 bar under peak-demand-equivalent loading. Junctions J-41 and J-116 were identified as demand-sensitive locations because their pressures decreased below the 1.5-bar service-pressure criterion. Pipe velocity increased from 0.71 m/s to 1.42 m/s, with PIP-3 representing the primary hydraulic loading pathway. Single-pipe outage analysis revealed greater localized vulnerability; removal of PIP-30 reduced minimum residual pressure to −1.06 bar at J-34, affected 21 junctions, and increased rerouted velocity in PIP-2 to 1.55 m/s. Fourteen bridge-link pipes were identified as topologically critical components due to their connectivity impacts. The hydraulic sensitivity results were translated into a system-specific monitoring framework by linking priority locations with pressure, flow, velocity, and asset-status indicators. The proposed approach demonstrates how scenario-based hydraulic analysis can support targeted monitoring design and improve operational awareness in gravity-based water distribution networks.