Effect of regulations and treatment technologies on water distribution infrastructure

Changes in regulations on source water withdrawals, new treatment techniques, and maximum contaminant levels require drinking water utilities to continually change, upgrade, or replace their historic water sources and treatment practices. These change in treatment techniques invariably alter the water chemistry and can negatively affect the distribution system. This research, based on a partnership project between the Water Research Foundation and the National Research Council Canada, sought the consensus of experts from diverse areas of the drinking water industry in identifying current research needs to better understand potential water quality consequences for the distribution infrastructure. In addition, the authors developed a hierarchical relationship model that uses available research literature and expert knowledge to evaluate the effect of proposed changes on the distribution infrastructure.