Probabilistic topology-based analysis of water age at terminal areas in water distribution networks

The quality of water supplied through water distribution systems is traditionally assured through sampling of different physical, chemical, and biological parameters at the exit of water treatment works and at different locations within the network. However, sampling is periodic and does not capture the complex processes that take place within the network over time and space. The time of residence of the resource within the network (also called water age) has been used in the past as surrogate indicator for water quality (Machell and Boxall, 2012). As water age increases, water quality parameters tend to worsen (Machell and Boxall, 2013). This is more likely in terminal and meshed areas with low renovation rates (high water age). This work presents a detailed analysis of residence times at a terminal branch. This benchwork branch is inspired in the real topology of water connections at several dead ends in a water supply network in Spain. Stochastic demands are simulated per water connection thanks to a demand model inspired in SIMDEUM (Blokker et al., 2010). Demands are then used to run a hydraulic and water quality model with high resolution. Different metrics are then computed to probabilistically assess water age within the branch. These metrics are useful to identify topologies that are especially problematic.

Acknowledgements:

The authors would like to thank the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation - State Research Agency (Grant PID2019-111506RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033; Grant TED2021-131136B-100 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Grant No. SBPLY/19/180501/000162, funded by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and ERDF A way of making Europe).

References:

Machell, J. and Boxall, J. (2012) Field studies and modeling exploring mean and maximum water age association to water quality in a drinking water distribution network. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 138(6), 624-638, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000220

Machell, J. and Boxall, J. (2013) Modeling and field work to investigate the relationship between age and quality of tap water. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 140(9), 04014020, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000383

Blokker, E.J.M., Vreeburg, J.H.G. and van Dijk, J.C. (2010) Simulating residential water demand with a stochastic end-use model. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 136(1), 19-26, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000002