Pumping regimes for water distribution systems have been established to reduce pump operation
costs. Optimization of water reservoir networks has been studied extensively for operating pumps
efficiently. According to research, optimization reduces pump operation costs by approximately 10?
20%. However, comparing economic benefits per country would be too complex because the effects
of optimization differ depending on the power cost estimation system of each country and the
existing operations. This study presents an optimization algorithm to minimize the operating costs of
an entire system via the application of dynamic programming. Case studies were conducted to apply
the algorithm to real values in four scenarios. By setting cost minimization as an objective, an
optimum water pump operation plan was derived that encompasses operating conditions, variations
in water demand, and energy costs. Results showed that operating a standby pump in an existing
system can increase the system’s efficiency. In addition, even if hourly water consumption remains
constant, each case requires its own operating method, because each case has different operational
costs. By considering various conditions such as those mentioned in this study, future pump
operation schedules can be optimized and stabilized to maintain economic water supply.