A new approach of water utilization networks design based on water quality analysis and mathematical programming was presented.According to those limiting operation data given in the literatures

the quality of different water samples was calculated respectively

and their priority was specified in sequence.The best quality water was preference as water provider

provided the quantity can meet the demand

the others were omitted from providing

and then the superstructure was simplified significantly.Finally

a NLP program in GAMS language was used to determine the minimum freshwater flow rate

the reuse water flow rate and wastewater flow rate.Applied in two examples

the present approach was proved to be feasible and desirable.