In　this　work,　a　new　seismic　performance-based　deign　model　for　urban　water　distribution　system　(WDS)　is　presented.　The　design　objective　is　determined　according　to　different　seismic　performance　requirements　of　users　who　have　different　importance　in　WDS.　The　design　parameters　include　the　topology　of　water　supply　network　and　the　seismic　capacity　of　pipeline　structures.　The　enhancement　of　WDS　seismic　performance　can　be　achieved　through　the　redundant　layout　of　water　supply　network　and　the　improvement　of　pipeline　structure　seismic　capacity.　An　assessment　index　system　based　on　user　importance　was　established　by　considering　the　normal　operation　function,　post-earthquake　relief　function　and　network　topology,　and　the　comprehensive　importance　index　was　calculated　by　multi-attribute　decision-making　method.　Furthermore,　the　cost-benefit　curve　for　the　seismic　performance　of　pipeline　structure　was　analyzed　according　to　the　relations　among　cost　coefficient,　joint　displacement　and　seismic　reliability　of　pipe　segment.　To　verify　its　validity,　the　proposed　model　was　applied　to　the　seismic　design　of　an　actual　WDS.　©,　2015,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.