Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
8-1-2014
Abstract
Since the introduction of the Safe Drinking Water Act, there has been marked reduction in the number of water-borne disease outbreaks attributed to water treatment systems. Over the same period, however, the percentage of disease outbreaks attributable to defects in the distribution system has increased exponentially. Interestingly, as a result of the continuous aging infrastructure employed by our water utilities, the number of water-borne disease cases has increased in the last decade. The smart grid for water can be used to significantly improve both the utility's understanding of water quality in the distribution system, but can dramatically increase the response and provide the means to ensure public health protection. By combining customer input via call centres, highly granular consumption data from the Customer Information System, operational information from Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, hydraulic modeling data and geo-referenced spatial asset management data, a rapid, visual identification of water distribution system health can be built allowing operations staff to immediately respond to any potential issue. Further, leak detection flags and reverse flow flags from Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) metering systems can be employed to both identify potential ingress of contaminants, and where hydraulic conditions exist that promote reverse flows. This paper will present the use of the Analytical Water Quality Assurance Program developed to provide instantaneous water quality notifications throughout the utility organization.
Comments
Session R54, Water Distribution Networks: Water Quality Aspects