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The effect of downstream valve closure scheduling was analyzed to find optimal closure parameters that lead to the minimal maximum pressure head in the water distribution system. Several valve closure strategies were explored, combining the known valve performance curve (change in flow as a function of change in valve's opened area) with unknown valve closure curve (change in valve's opened area as a function of time). Second-order polynomial curve, power function curve, and piecewise linear curve were implemented and compared. Genetic algorithm and quasi-Newton (QN) optimization methods were applied. The methodology was tested for three networks, including looped gravitational and pressurized networks. The results demonstrate that flexible multiparametric valve closure curve and QN optimization method are more effective in minimizing the maximum pressure head in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]