DASH of Water – water distribution system modelling in the age of smart water meters

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Steffelbauer ◽  
Mirjam Blokker ◽  
Arno Knobbe ◽  
Edo Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Smart Meter ◽  
Smart Meters ◽  
Demand Models

<p>Worldwide, water utilities face exceptional challenges as communities are running out of water and new resources are ill-equipped to meet rising water demands. Furthermore, in many cities, years of stringent financial constraints on water utilities, unoptimized operations and the unaffordability for utilities to maintain and replace their aging infrastructure has resulted in dramatically growing leakage levels, especially in places already under high water stress. Even in Europe, as a matter of fact, nearly one quarter of treated water is lost in the distribution systems before reaching the customers. As a result, the aging water infrastructure is challenged to become more efficient.</p><p>Nowadays, an increasing number of water utilities use hydraulic simulation software to design and operate water systems in a more efficient way. However, measurements in water distribution are scarce, which results in inaccurate computer models of real systems. Recently, smart meters have become available as a promising remedy. These smart meters measure water usage of households and transmit information to water utilities in real-time. Now is the time to make water distribution simulation software fit for the future, by exploiting this new Big-data source and start a new era in hydraulic modeling, aiming to increase the operational efficiency of our drinking water systems and save our precious water resources.</p><p>This work proposes an innovative new way of combining hydraulic models, data from smart meters and stochastic demand modelling to develop beyond state-of-the-art methods to simulate water distribution systems. It is shown how data science algorithms (e.g. dynamic time warping, clustering, demand disaggregation, household activity identification, …) can be used to extract high-level information from smart meter data (e.g. daily water use routines, work schedules, socio-economic characteristics). Such information is crucial for simulating water demand accurately. Hence, data science algorithms can be used to automatically parametrize stochastic demand models (e.g. SIMDEUM) based on smart meter data, and improve their accuracy. The improved demand models are coupled with hydraulic simulations, leading to a more realistic way of simulating real water systems. Examples on a wide range of real-world applications show how these novel modelling approaches can be used to increase the operational efficiency of drinking water systems. For instance, more accurate models enable faster detection and localization of leaks in water pipes and, thus, minimize distribution losses. This work is part of the project “DASH of Water”, which aims to develop advanced <strong>da</strong>ta-driven <strong>s</strong>tochastic <strong>h</strong>ydraulic (DASH) models of drinking water distribution systems.</p>

scholarly journals Microbial Nitrogen Metabolism in Chloraminated Drinking Water Reservoirs

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Potgieter ◽  
Zihan Dai ◽  
Stephanus N. Venter ◽  
Makhosazana Sigudu ◽  
Ameet J. Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Nitrogen Metabolism ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Nitrite Reduction ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Water Reservoirs ◽  
Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

ABSTRACT Ammonia availability due to chloramination can promote the growth of nitrifying organisms, which can deplete chloramine residuals and result in operational problems for drinking water utilities. In this study, we used a metagenomic approach to determine the identity and functional potential of microorganisms involved in nitrogen biotransformation within chloraminated drinking water reservoirs. Spatial changes in the nitrogen species included an increase in nitrate concentrations accompanied by a decrease in ammonium concentrations with increasing distance from the site of chloramination. This nitrifying activity was likely driven by canonical ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (i.e., Nitrosomonas) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (i.e., Nitrospira) as well as by complete-ammonia-oxidizing (i.e., comammox) Nitrospira-like bacteria. Functional annotation was used to evaluate genes associated with nitrogen metabolism, and the community gene catalogue contained mostly genes involved in nitrification, nitrate and nitrite reduction, and nitric oxide reduction. Furthermore, we assembled 47 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing a highly diverse assemblage of bacteria. Of these, five MAGs showed high coverage across all samples, which included two Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, Sphingomonas, and Rhizobiales-like MAGs. Systematic genome-level analyses of these MAGs in relation to nitrogen metabolism suggest that under ammonia-limited conditions, nitrate may be also reduced back to ammonia for assimilation. Alternatively, nitrate may be reduced to nitric oxide and may potentially play a role in regulating biofilm formation. Overall, this study provides insight into the microbial communities and their nitrogen metabolism and, together with the water chemistry data, improves our understanding of nitrogen biotransformation in chloraminated drinking water distribution systems. IMPORTANCE Chloramines are often used as a secondary disinfectant when free chlorine residuals are difficult to maintain. However, chloramination is often associated with the undesirable effect of nitrification, which results in operational problems for many drinking water utilities. The introduction of ammonia during chloramination provides a potential source of nitrogen either through the addition of excess ammonia or through chloramine decay. This promotes the growth of nitrifying microorganisms and provides a nitrogen source (i.e., nitrate) for the growth for other organisms. While the roles of canonical ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in chloraminated drinking water systems have been extensively investigated, those studies have largely adopted a targeted gene-centered approach. Further, little is known about the potential long-term cooccurrence of complete-ammonia-oxidizing (i.e., comammox) bacteria and the potential metabolic synergies of nitrifying organisms with their heterotrophic counterparts that are capable of denitrification and nitrogen assimilation. This study leveraged data obtained for genome-resolved metagenomics over a time series to show that while nitrifying bacteria are dominant and likely to play a major role in nitrification, their cooccurrence with heterotrophic organisms suggests that nitric oxide production and nitrate reduction to ammonia may also occur in chloraminated drinking water systems.

scholarly journals Minimum Night Flow Analysis and Application of the Fixed and Variable Area Discharges Model for Characterizing Leakage in the Gorino Ferrarese (FE-Italy) District

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Irene Marzola ◽  
Stefano Alvisi ◽  
Marco Franchini
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Smart Meters ◽  
Minimum Night Flow ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
District Metered Area

Leakage in water distribution systems is an important issue and of major interest for water utilities. In this study, the Minimum Night Flow (MNF) method to quantify the amount of water lost and the equations representing the relationship between pressure and leakage in power and FAVAD (Fixed and Variable Area Discharge) forms were applied to a District Metered Area (DMA) located in Gorino Ferrarese (FE, Italy) equipped with smart meters. The analysis carried out by exploiting the collected time series of user water consumption, DMA inflow, and pressure highlighted that: (a) the MNF method can lead to significant inaccuracy in leakage estimation in the presence of users with irregular consumptions, when based on literature values, and (b) the estimation of the parameters of the power and FAVAD equation is highly affected by the number and types of observed data used.

scholarly journals Microbial Nitrogen Metabolism in Chloraminated Drinking Water Reservoirs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C Potgieter ◽  
Zihan Dai ◽  
Stefanus N Venter ◽  
Makhosazana Sigudu ◽  
Ameet J Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Nitrogen Metabolism ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Water Reservoirs ◽  
Microbial Nitrogen ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution

AbstractNitrification is a common concern in chloraminated drinking water distribution systems. The addition of ammonia promotes the growth of nitrifying organisms, causing the depletion of chloramine residuals and resulting in operational problems for many drinking water utilities. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the microbially mediated processes behind nitrogen metabolism together with chemical water quality data, may allow water utilities to better address the undesirable effects caused by nitrification. In this study, a metagenomic approach was applied to characterise the microbial nitrogen metabolism within chloraminated drinking water reservoirs. Samples from two geographically separated but connected chloraminated reservoirs within the same drinking water distribution system (DWDS) were collected within a 2-year sampling campaign. Spatial changes in the nitrogen compounds (ammonium (NH4+), nitrites (NO2−) and nitrates (NO3−)) across the DWDS were observed, where nitrate concentrations increased as the distance from the site of chloramination increased. The observed dominance ofNitrosomonasandNitrospira-like bacteria, together with the changes in the concentration of nitrogen species, suggests that these bacteria play a significant role in contributing to varying stages of nitrification in both reservoirs. Functionally annotated protein sequences were mined for the genes associated with nitrogen metabolism and the community gene catalogue contained mostly genes involved in nitrification, nitrate and nitrite reduction and nitric oxide reduction. Furthermore, based on the construction of Metagenome Assembled Genomes (MAGs), a highly diverse assemblage of bacteria (i.e., predominatelyAlpha- andBetaproteobacteriain this study) was observed among the draft genomes. Specifically, 5 MAGs showed high coverage across all samples including twoNitrosomonas, Nitrospira, Sphingomonasand aRhizobiales-like MAGs. The role of these MAGs in nitrogen metabolism revealed that the fate nitrate may be linked to changes in ammonia concentrations, that is, when ammonia concentrations are low, nitrate may be assimilated back to ammonia for growth. Alternatively, nitrate may be reduced to nitric oxide and potentially used in the regulation of biofilm formation. Therefore, this study provides insight into the genetic network behind microbially mediated nitrogen metabolism and together with the water chemistry data improves our understanding nitrification in chloraminated DWDSs.

Drinking Water and Public Health in an Era of Aging Distribution Infrastructure

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Allen ◽  
Robert Clark ◽  
Joseph A. Cotruvo ◽  
Neil Grigg
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Driving Factor ◽  
Public Drinking Water ◽  
Treated Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Water

The provision of a safe and sustainable drinking water supply is one of the hallmarks of a successful society. Treated drinking water entering distribution systems in virtually all U.S. public drinking water systems meets regulations and is microbiologically safe. However, the opportunity for microbial contamination from decades to century old water distribution systems is increasing with time. Thus, increased health risk to consumers should be a driving factor in accelerating reinvestment in America’s aging water distribution water systems.

Aftergrowths in Drinking Water Systems: An Australian Perspective

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 437-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Power ◽  
B. Cooper ◽  
H. Watts ◽  
L. A. Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution Systems ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution ◽  
Sydney Australia

Aftergrowths in drinking water distribution systems were investigated in Sydney Australia. The microbiological monitoring results, collected over a 2 year period were used to provide information on interactions between various parameters. Results indicated that microorganisms and total coliforms were usually absent in waters with total chlorine levels over 0.2 mg/L. Results also indicated inhibition between plate count organisms (at 20 and 35°C), and total coliforms, particularly once plate count levels exceeded 100 CFU/mL.

scholarly journals Disinfectant residuals in drinking water systems select for mycobacterial populations with intrinsic antimicrobial resistance

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Sevillano ◽  
Zihan Dai ◽  
Szymon Calus ◽  
Quyen M Bautista-de los Santos ◽  
A. Murat Eren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Intrinsic Resistance ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) in drinking water has received less attention than counterparts in the urban water cycle. While culture-based techniques or gene-centric PCR have been used to probe the impact of treatment approaches (e.g., disinfection) on AMR in drinking water, to our knowledge there is no systematic comparison of AMR traits between disinfected and disinfectant residual-free drinking water systems. We use metagenomics to assess the associations between disinfectant residuals and AMR prevalence and its host association in full-scale drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). The differences in AMR profiles between DWDSs are associated with the presence or absence of disinfectant. Further, AMR genes and mechanisms enriched in disinfected systems are associated with drug classes primarily linked to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Finally, evaluation of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) of NTM indicates that they possess AMR genes conferring intrinsic resistance to key antibiotics, whereas such NTM genomes were not detected in disinfectant residual free DWDSs. Thus, disinfection may not only influence the AMR profiles of the drinking water microbiome but also select for NTM with intrinsic AMR.

Materials used in drinking water distribution systems: contribution to taste-and-odor

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Tomboulian ◽  
L. Schweitzer ◽  
K. Mullin ◽  
J. Wilson ◽  
D. Khiari
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution Systems ◽  
Taste And Odor ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Water Taste

In order to assist drinking water utilities with identifying the possible sources and causes of taste-and-odor conditions associated with materials used in distribution systems, we evaluated information from case studies and a database from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), International. This database identified chemicals that had leached from drinking water system components during testing of materials under ANSI/NSF Standard 61, which provides information to water utilities on potential taste-and-odor and health concerns from the use of new materials. The data were arranged to provide a process for locating the potential source of a taste-and-odor event. After a sensory analysis is conducted on the drinking water samples, the descriptor can be matched with categories on the "Drinking Water Taste and Odor Wheel 2000" in order to suggest the candidate material.

The assessment of biofilm community composition on plumbing materials in filtered and unfiltered water distribution systems

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 187-191
Author(s):  
M.M. Critchley ◽  
N.J. Cromar ◽  
H.J. Fallowfield
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Distribution Systems ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Fatty Acid Profiles ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution Systems

Biofilms have been extensively characterised within drinking water distribution systems. However, the significance of materials on biofilm species diversity is not established. This study investigated the community composition of biofilms on plumbing materials receiving filtered and unfiltered water supplies. Biofilms were extracted from polybutylene, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, unplasticised polyvinyl chloride and copper tubes in sampling rigs receiving Murray-Onkaparinga water before or after filtration. Biofilms were extracted and analysed for fatty acid composition using the FAME™ methodology. There were differences in the fatty acid profiles of biofilms and the respective water supplies, indicating differences in the attached and planktonic communities. The results also showed significant differences in the fatty acid profiles of biofilms on the polymer materials compared to copper, suggesting variations in biofilm populations on the different materials. The potential for materials to select for microbial populations has significant implications for the ecology of drinking water biofilms.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document