Field-Scale Assessment of a Multispecies Water Quality System: A Chloramination Study

Water distribution system network models are used to simulate both hydraulic and water quality characteristics in water distribution systems. These models primarily focus on modeling hydraulics and are unable to model more than one water quality parameter. EPANET-MSX (Multi-Species eXtension), a recently developed multi-species water quality version of EPANET, has the ability to model complex multi-species systems of water quality species. This study proposes to provide the first comprehensive evaluation of integrated models associated with chloramine dynamics, by-product formation, and nitrification through the use of field-scale measurements and distribution system network modeling. Hydraulic and multi-species water quality simulations will be performed using EPANET-MSX. This investigation will gauge the accuracy of EPANET-MSX through comparison with a comprehensive set of field-data. Successful implementation of such a model could change the way water distribution maintenance and operation is approached in the future.