An event-driven method for modelling contaminant propagation in water networks

Abstract

An efficient computer-oriented methodology is presented for use in analyzing water quality variations in drinking-water distribution systems. The proposed method can be effectively used for modelling chemical, biological, and hydraulic changes that result from distribution system activities and to predict the transient distribution of contaminants throughout the pipe system. It is predicated on the material mass balance accounting for transport and kinetic reaction processes. Perfect advective one-dimensional displacement with complete mixing of material at the network nodes is assumed. The method is event-driven and determines the optimal pipe segmentation scheme with the smallest number of segments necessary to carry out the simulation process. The resulting approach allows for dynamic water quality modelling that is less sensitive to the structure of the network and to the length of the simulation than previously proposed methods. In addition, numerical dispersion of concentration profile resolution is eliminated. The applicability of the method is illustrated using an example water distribution network. Enhancement of distribution system water quality management is a principal benefit of the methodology.