Integrating Requirements, Drivers, and Technologies for Enhanced Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring

Water utilities globally are under great pressure to ensure the delivery of safe and aesthetically pleasing water in a cost-effective manner. Even though considerable time, effort, and money are spent conducting distribution system water quality monitoring, there remains a great need for a renewed approach that integrates disparate regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and new technologies.

To address this need, the project will follow a structured, research-driven approach that incorporates utility surveys, workshops, and case studies to design a flexible framework for system-specific decision-making. This framework will be tested in collaboration with selected utilities using innovative sensors to validate and refine the approach. Findings from all project phases will be synthesized into a comprehensive digital guidance manual, offering practical tools and insights for utilities to enhance water quality management and operational efficiency.

Ultimately, this project will produce a digitally based guidance manual to assist utilities in optimizing distribution system water quality monitoring by integrating regulatory and operational requirements, new technologies (sensors and dashboards), and distribution system hydraulic modeling (digital twins).