Real-time experiment of water security measurement sensors in a drinking water system: Case study: The Colorado State University Campus

A water distribution system is the most vulnerable target for chemical, biological, or radiological contamination or intentional attack because of the easy accessibility of miles of pipeline and its connections. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, concern on this matter has grown. In order to monitor the vast footprint of a water distribution network, a great number of instruments and devices detecting any suspicious occurrence need to be installed. Such instruments are presently available, although it is relatively expensive to deploy them at each detection point. Thus, providing adequate coverage of a typical distribution system is prohibitively expensive. The primary objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a cost-effective detection instrument, the Micro Sensor Unit (MSU), employed for a real-time experiment to demonstrate its effectiveness and technical verification. The real-time data collected with the MSU were used in conjunction with hydraulic models to predict the fate and movement of unwanted substances throughout a water distribution system. The MSU network helped provide real-time surveillance and pinpoint locations of contaminants through data collection and associated modeling. H2O Map modeled the hydraulic and chemical characteristics of the distribution system of a campus facility. Utilizing a vast amount of data points from the actual water distribution system, the model was calibrated based on flow rates and pipe characteristics. Several intentional contamination scenarios were simulated with many different data points, and it was determined how effectively the MSU system could work for detecting any event timely. The hydraulic model was also used to determine the optimum sample location and the required number of MSU units. Ultimately, the MSU and its developed method of monitoring and data management were found to be an appropriate way of predicting the transport and fate of a contaminant in a water distribution system.