Incorporation of COVID-19-Inspired Behaviour into Agent-Based Modelling for Water Distribution Systems’ Contamination Responses

Leonid Kadinski,Avi Ostfeld

doi:10.3390/w13202863

Abstract

Drinking water contamination events in water networks are major challenges which require fast handling by the responsible water utility manager agent, and have been explored in a variety of models and scenarios using, e.g., agent-based modelling. This study proposes to use recent findings during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and draw analogies regarding responses and reactions to these kinds of challenges. This happens within an agent-based model coupled to a hydraulic simulation where the decision making of the individual agents is based on a fuzzy logic system reacting to a contamination event in a water network. Upon detection of anomalies in the water the utility manager agent places mobile sensor equipment in order to determine endangered areas in the water network and warn the consumer agents. Their actions are determined according to their social backgrounds, location in the water network and possible symptoms from ingesting contaminated water by utilising a fuzzy logic system. Results from an example application suggest that placing mobile equipment and warning consumers in real time is essential as part of a proper response to a contamination event. Furthermore, social background factors such as the age or employment status of the population can play a vital role in the consumer agents’ response to a water event.

Highlights

The generated output determines which actions the consumer agents might take after an initial warning from the utility manager concerning a contamination event in the water distribution system
15 of spread is transmitted to the consumer agents by the utility manager, and they can r according to their individual location in the network
Two hours after the and general concerning theare contamination event, the information which are locations in the network the network safe for consuming water andonwhich endangered is spread by are safe for consuming water and which are endangered is spread by the utility manager

Summary

Introduction

Water distribution systems (WDSs) are critical infrastructure in delivering water at desired quantities to a system’s consumers. In the case of a harmful contamination event, toxic substances might be transported to unsuspecting consumers. Network classification of the social backgrounds was almost exclusively taken from [25]. Backgrounds was almost exclusively taken from [25].the. These are Type randomly distributed over network withisthe following percentages: Type types 1 = 25%, 2 = 45% and Type 3 =the. 10%, with the following percentages: Type 1of

Objectives

Results

Conclusion