Water quality modelling in distribution networks.

The thesis is a treatise of the quantity and quality aspects of potable water in distribution
systems. The privatisation of the UK Water Industry in 1989 has seen the requirement
for the Water Companies in England and Wales to be responsible for the delivery of good
quality water that meets the demand of all consumers. In respect of the quantity of
supply, there have been many previous studies that have examined the hydraulic
performance of distribution systems and there are now many proprietary mathematical
models that have been successfully used in this study. However, in respect of water
quality the literature review has highlighted that the modelling approach is not so well
advanced, as water quality is a function of many concepts, processes and parameters that
include the source and age of water, the condition and deterioration of the assets in the
system, the microbiological, chemical and physical processes and the network hydraulic
performance, including pressure transients. These processes are highly interactive and
complex.
In an attempt to better understand these processes a programme of research has been
completed that has involved a field evaluation of the performance of a live system,
including the development of instrumentation to continually measure water quality, and
the development of a mathematical model to describe the processes associated with the
age of water and the propagation of conservative and non-conservative substances. An
initial attempt has also been made to develop a micro-biological model and a sediment
transport model.
New original concepts developed by the author include age, biological and diagnostic
models that may be used to identify the source of any incident (hydraulic or pollution)
and the application of the model in near real time.