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Reliability theory for microbial water quality and sustainability assessment
Allen Teklitz1, Christopher Nietch2, M Sadegh Riasi1
1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Journal of Hydrology
|September 10, 2021
Summary
This study applies reliability theory to assess surface water quality and sustainability. It defines contamination limits as failures, enabling prediction of water quality issues and informing resource management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Ecosystem Services
Background:
- Microbial contamination of surface water threatens essential ecosystem services like recreation and drinking water provision.
- Predicting water contamination and assessing water resource sustainability is challenging due to complex environmental systems and variable contaminant transport processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply reliability theory as a framework for assessing surface water quality and sustainability.
- To define and quantify measures of reliability, vulnerability, resilience, and sustainability for surface water networks.
Main Methods:
- Defining system failure as exceeding regulatory water contamination limits.
- Treating individual surface water network reaches as system components.
- Developing spatially distributed, probability- and physics-based sustainability measures.
Main Results:
- Quantification of reliability, vulnerability, resilience, and sustainability index for surface water components.
- Spatially distributed geospatial products visualizing these sustainability measures.
- Demonstration of a framework for assessing water quality and sustainability.
Conclusions:
- Reliability theory provides a robust framework for evaluating surface water quality and sustainability.
- Geospatial presentation of probability-based measures can enhance public understanding and acceptance of contaminant hydrology methods.
- This approach aids in the sustainable management of water resources facing contamination risks.
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