former policies. Future approaches There is great need for a more sustainable water supply systems. To achieve sustainability several factors must be tackled at the same time: climate change, rising energy cost, and rising populations. All of these factors provoke change and put pressure on management of available water resources. An obstacle to transforming conventional water supply systems, is the amount of time needed to achieve the transformation. More specifically, transformation must be implemented by municipal legislation bodies, which always need short-term solutions too. Another obstacle to achieving sustainability in water supply systems is the insufficient practical experience with the technologies required, and the missing know-how about the organization and the transition process. Possible ways to improve this situation is simulating of the network, implementing pilot projects, learning from the costs involved and the benefits achieved. See also Aqueduct Civil engineering Conduit hydroelectricity Domestic water system Hardy Cross method Hydrological optimization Hydrology Infrastructure Plumbing River Tap water Water Water pipes Water meter Water well Automatic meter reading Backflow prevention device Fire hydrant Strainers Valve Water tower Water quality Water resources Water supply References External links DCMMS: A web-based GIS application to record maintenance activities for water and wastewater networks. An open-source hydraulic toolbox for water distribution systems Water supply network schematic Supply network Environmental engineering Hydraulics Supply network