This paper brings an in detail Genetic Algorithm (GA) based combinatorial optimization method used for the optimal design of the water distribution network (WDN) of Gurudeniya Service Zone, Sri Lanka. Genetic Algorithm (GA) mimics the survival of the fittest principle of nature to develop a search process. Methodology employs fuzzy combinations of pipe diameters to check their suitability to be considered as the cost effective optimal design solutions. Furthermore, the hydraulic constraints were implicitly evaluated within the GA itself in its aim to reaching the global optimum solution. Upon analysis, the results of this approach delivered agreeable design outputs. In addition, the comparison made between the results obtained by a previous study inspired by the Honey Bee Mating Optimization (HBMO) Algorithm and results obtained by the GA based approach, proves competency of GA for the optimal design of water distribution network in Gurudeniya Service Zone, Sri Lanka.

翻译：本文详细阐述了一种基于遗传算法的组合优化方法，并将其应用于斯里兰卡Gurudeniya服务区给水管网的优化设计。遗传算法模拟自然界"适者生存"原则来构建搜索过程。该方法采用管径的模糊组合来检验其作为经济高效的最优设计方案的适用性。此外，水力约束条件在遗传算法内部进行了隐式评估，旨在寻求全局最优解。分析表明，该方法所得设计结果令人满意。同时，通过将先前一项受蜂群交配优化算法启发的研究所得结果与基于遗传算法的方法所得结果进行比较，证明了遗传算法在斯里兰卡Gurudeniya服务区给水管网优化设计中的有效性。