Grab sampling placement modeling for real time contamination event detection in water networks

This study proposes to build upon recent studies on the placement and utilization of water quality sensors in water distribution systems to develop an integrated framework to detect and respond to a potential contamination event. In addition to fixed-location sensors, recently developed mobile sensors can transmit water quality data to assist in the characterization of a contamination event. The resulting information from both sensor types is necessary for plume forecasting and locating the contaminant source, which is required to assist in the remediation of the system. In addition to detecting a potential event, the ability to represent the dynamics associated with a contaminant can further assist in remediation activities. While most efforts have focused on reactions in the bulk fluid, the potential for adsorption of the contaminant on the corroded pipe walls and the potential release of adsorbed contaminants is a threat to the health of the consumer over a long time horizon. Therefore, a method has been developed to estimate the long term desorption of the contaminant cadmium and solutions proposed to integrate this knowledge into an automated long-term recovery system.