Modelling the potential for water quality failures in distribution networks: framework (I)

摘要

The deterioration of water quality can adversely affect consumers’ health as well as the aestheticnproperties of water (taste, odour, colour). To date, little consideration has been given to the impactnof deteriorating (ageing) water mains on water quality as a major decision driver for thenrenewal/rehabilitation of water mains. The main objective of this research was to identify majorndeterioration mechanisms in distribution networks that may contribute to water quality failuresn(WQF) and develop a model to quantify overall potential for WQF as a function of this deterioration.nNumerous factors affect water quality in the distribution network and interactions among them arencomplex and often not well understood. Water quality failures in distribution networks arenrelatively scarce, which makes it difficult to establish statistically significant generalizations. In suchndata-sparse circumstances, expert knowledge and judgement can serve as a supplement or evennas alternative source(s) of information. This paper discusses major deterioration mechanisms thatnmay contribute to WQFs in distribution networks, and proposes a modelling framework usingnfuzzy-based methods. The following two papers in this series will provide a mathematicalnformulation of the proposed model and its application using two case studies, respectively.