A number of optimization approaches for the synthesis and design of effective wastewater regeneration and reuse networks in industrial parks have been proposed to support decision making for careful management of water resources by the industrial sector. The approaches allow the identification of optimal wastewater treatment and reuse strategies. All such available methods for interplant water network synthesis assign a single pipeline for every viable water allocation identified, which results in inefficient and costly pipe networks. Instead, this work presents a water network design approach that accounts for a number of pipeline merging scenarios for wastewater reuse and regeneration networks considering central and decentral treatment options. Merging common pipe segments that carry similar water qualities allows for cost -improvements in network design, in addition to reducing the overall pipeline network complexity due to fewer required interconnecting pipes. The benefits of the proposed method are illustrated with a case study. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.