Cost-Effective Water-Quality Modelling of Potable Water Distribution Systems

Before privatization of the water authorities in England and Wales in 1989, future water companies were instructed to provide auditable proof of their investment requirements by the production of asset management plans.
With respect to distribution systems for potable water, asset management plan studies have established that unlined ferrous mains are often the main cause of complaints about discoloured water. It has also been found that the investment in water mains rehabilitation, which is driven by water quality problems, overshadows similar investment requirements driven by high burst rates and poor hydraulic performance.
This paper describes how certain techniques of water quality modelling have been developed and refined to provide a rapid, cost-effective method for identifying requirements for water-main rehabilitation.