Water Systems Group

The Water Systems Group (WSG) of the University of Ferrara, Italy, was founded by Prof. Marco Franchini and Ass. Prof. Stefano Alvisi with the aim of advancing research in the field of water resource and water system management. The team – currently formed by Prof. Marco Franchini, Ass. Prof. Stefano Alvisi, Eng. Samuele Alassio, Dr. Valentina Marsili, and Dr. Filippo Mazzoni – is involved in numerous research and educational activities, strictly cooperating with water utilities, and joining periodic guidance projects for high-school and younger students. The research activity of the WSG is mainly focused on water distribution and water drainage systems. With reference to water distribution systems, the major topics are demand modelling and forecasting, infrastructure optimal design and rehabilitation, district metered areas identification, smart metering technology, leakage detection and localization, pressure control, security controls and distributed disinfection, energy recovery, transient analysis, and distribution model calibration approaches. With reference to drainage systems, research is mainly focused on the identification of impervious areas from satellite images, design and management of combined-sewer-overflow devices, best management practices for sewer systems, hydraulic simulation, and drainage model calibration. The WSG also conducts consulting activity for several Italian water utilities, with the aim of supporting the hydraulic and quality modelling of water distribution systems and identifying smart operational strategies for an efficient and sustainable management of urban water networks. Since the early 2000s, the group has carried out a variety of projects in collaboration with numerous water utilities located in the north-east of Italy, such as AcegasApsAmga, Acquevenete, AIMAG, BIM Gestione Servizi Pubblici, HERA, CADF, Metropolitana Milanese, and Tea Acque.