Chlorine Concentration Modelling and Supervision in Water Distribution Systems

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Water Quality Management

Background:

• Drinking water quality is a primary concern for network operators.
• Chlorine is essential for disinfection in water distribution networks (WDN) but requires careful dosing to prevent disinfection byproducts (DBPs).
• Existing chlorine decay models face challenges in full-scale application for WDN supervision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust methodology for calibrating chlorine decay models in WDN.
• To integrate validated chlorine prediction models with extensive data analysis.
• To improve the on-line calibration of chlorine decay models using real-time data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized validated chlorine prediction models.
• Conducted an intensive study of large datasets to understand parameter influence.
• Estimated and validated model parameters using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software data from a full-scale WDN.
• Employed off-line analytics for parameter validation.

Main Results:

• Developed a powerful methodology for on-line calibration of chlorine decay models.
• Demonstrated that the model calibration coherently evolves over time.
• Identified significant variables influencing chlorine decay in WDN.

Conclusions:

• The proposed methodology enables effective on-line calibration of chlorine decay models.
• This approach enhances the supervision of water distribution networks by providing accurate, time-evolving chlorine predictions.
• The study bridges the gap between theoretical models and practical application in WDN management.