Abstract: As a new management model of water distribution system (WDS), DMA, which has an essential significance for improving management level of WDS, is proposed. In recent years, researches had yielded some results on problems such as DMA zonal methods, leakage controling, pressure management and water network protection from intentional contamination and so on. Based on summaries of fundamental principles and design discipline of DMA, the current research progress of theoretical DMA zonal methods is focused on, and the merits and drawbacks of those methods analyzed. At last, the summaries and improvement objective of DMA zonal methods are presented, and the future research directions and the potential practical value of community structure are suggested at the same time．