--- title: "What is a Top Regulator" canonical: "https://docs.rubiconwater.com/space/SM/2001011526/What%20is%20a%20Top%20Regulator" format: markdown --- > Macro (toc) A Top Regulator is a variable upstream water source. A Top Regulator is used as the starting point for network traversal, which DMS performs for demand calculations, for discovering network objects, and for reporting. An Up Regulator is a regulator at the upstream boundary of an area, so a Top Regulator is always an Up Regulator. However, some Up regulators are setflows, for which planners manually set a flow rate. Network traversal always stops at a setflow, so you should not mark a setflow regulator as a top regulator. See [Setflows Module](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NWNC/pages/2000978702) for more details. ---