A modified genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed for water distribution network optimization. Several changes are introduced in the selection and mutation processes of a simple GA. In each generation a constant number of solutions is eliminated, the selected ones are ranked for crossover, and the new solutions are allowed to undergo at most one mutation. All these modifications greatly increase the algorithm convergence. The modified GA is tested on the New York City water supply expansion problem. It obtains the lowest-cost feasible solution reported in the literature in far fewer generations than any previous GA. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union