Capacity Expansion of Sao Paulo Water Supply

Abstract

A capacity expansion model has been developed to facilitate the planning and the optimal timing and sizing of the proposed Juquia River system in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The proposed system consists of the construction of a series of reservoirs and pumping stations in the Juquia River basin to develop firm water supplies to meet the projected future water demands for the city of Sao Paulo. A monthly simulation model that utilizes rational operation rules and simulates the optimal operation mode is imbedded in the capacity expansion model so that the optimized results are consistent and hydrologically feasible. Forty‐two years of historical streamflows are used in the simulation model. Future water demands up to a time horizon are specified, and a forward dynamic programming algorithm is used to minimize the present worth of total project costs.