Abstract
Network model detail can influence the accuracy of results from analyses of water distribution systems. Previous work has shown the limitations of skeletonized network models when considering water quality and hydraulic effects. Loss of model detail is potentially less important for aggregated effects such as the systemwide health effects associated with a contamination event, but has received limited attention. The influence of model detail on such effects is examined here by comparing results obtained for contamination events using three large network models and several skeletonized versions of the models. Loss of model detail decreases the accuracy of estimated aggregated adverse effects related to contamination events. It has the potential to have a large negative influence on the results of consequence assessments and the design of contamination warning systems. However, the adverse influence on analysis results can be minimized by restricting attention to high percentile effects (i.e., 95th percentile or higher).
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Acknowledgments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development funded, managed, and participated in the research described here under an interagency agreement. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of EPA. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Work at Argonne National Laboratory was sponsored by the EPA under an interagency agreement through U.S. Department of Energy Contract DE-AC02-06CH11357.
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Because the information is confidential, the identity of the WDSs used in this paper or any information that could be used to identify them cannot be disclosed.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 141 • Issue 1 • January 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 25, 2013
Accepted: Jan 21, 2014
Published online: Jan 22, 2014
Discussion open until: Nov 23, 2014
Published in print: Jan 1, 2015
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