Using a digital twin to explore water infrastructure impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Resource Management
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant shifts in daily activities and water consumption patterns globally.
• Changes in water demand can disrupt water distribution system operations, affecting water age, pressure, and energy consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and utilize a digital twin to assess the impact of COVID-19-related changes in water demand on water distribution infrastructure.
• To evaluate alterations in water quality, network pressure, and energy demands under pandemic-induced consumption patterns.

Main Methods:

• A digital twin was created by integrating Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) data with a hydraulic model.
• Hydraulic modeling was performed using 2019 and COVID-19 demand scenarios to analyze water age, pressure, and energy consumption.
• Network resilience was assessed by modeling a water main break under both pre-pandemic and pandemic demand conditions.

Main Results:

• The study identified significant changes in water age, pressure distribution, and energy requirements due to altered water consumption during the pandemic.
• The digital twin effectively visualized the impact of new consumption patterns on system performance.
• Resilience analysis indicated potential vulnerabilities in the water supply system during interruption events under pandemic demand.

Conclusions:

• Digital twin technology offers valuable insights for water utility managers to understand and adapt to changing water demand patterns.
• The findings provide a basis for optimizing infrastructure operations and planning for long-term impacts of behavioral changes on water systems.
• This research underscores the importance of dynamic modeling for ensuring the reliability and efficiency of water distribution networks.