Analysis of particle numbers, size and composition in drinking water transportation pipelines: results of online measurements

The particulate water quality in a distribution network is not always constant but can deteriorate over time. Discolouration problems can occur, especially in distribution systems with a low flow rate. Until now, particulate water quality in the distribution network has been mainly monitored by measuring the turbidity. However, as turbidity is an indirect measurement method, it does not give quantitative and qualitative information about the water quality, and therefore a more advanced approach was used in this research. Several particle counters have been used simultaneously to measure the particulate water quality at different locations in a transportation system. It was found that larger particles were present further away from the treatment location, although these sized particles were not present directly after treatment. The particulate water quality in the transportation system was also assessed by filtering time integrated large volume water samples. Both organic and inorganic measurements were used to characterise the particle composition. The results of the analysis show that the particulate water quality changed in the transportation system.