Integrated Network-Based Modeling — Applications to the Water Infrastructure Sector

Many of the streams and rivers in the U.S. are sources for drinking water. Water from these surface sources are processed and distributed through pipelines throughout cities and suburbs. Waste water is gathered with a second set of pipelines and treated; and, with the rain waters that wash buildings, malls and streets, is disposed of in the same streams and rivers. The streams and rivers, and treatment and pipeline systems are each critical elements of water infrastructure. Elements of the water infrastructure are hydrologically connected allowing for an examination of such matters as disposal of contaminated drinking water and contamination of streams and rivers from untreated waste water. In a case study, we have "connected-the-dots" in these three infrastructure components (surface water, drinking water, waste water) to better understand and design networked systems that are both robust to variations in the components (including localized failures) and secure against hostile intent.