A comprehensive bulk chlorine decay model for simulating residuals in water distribution systems

Abstract

Chlorine decay models provide efficient ways to develop disinfection strategies for water distribution systems, provided they account separately for bulk and wall decay, and accurately describe decay with a single set of coefficients. The augmented two-reactant (2RA) model is shown to be the simplest model to accurately describe effects of rechlorination dose/timing on bulk chlorine decay, in combination with effects of initial concentration and temperature over long periods. The two-reactant (2R) and variable reaction-coefficient (VRC) models provided predictions of comparable accuracy under higher and successive rechlorination doses at constant temperature. However, the 2RA model provides a more general basis for strategy development, as the VRC model cannot describe the effect of temperature variation. The minimal data-set required for 2RA calibration was similar for all cases considered. The 2RA model is readily applied by incorporation into system modelling software such as the multi-species extension (MSX) to EPANET software.

Keywords:

• Water distribution modelling,
• Chlorine decay,
• Water quality,
• Optimization

Acknowledgements

Use of the Armidale data-set was approved by Armidale City Council. The authors generated the Greenvale data as a contribution by Sydney and Melbourne Water Corporations to the research program of the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment.