Determination and applications of water age in distribution system

This paper outlines the factors contributing to increased water age in distribution systems. Water age is a function primarily of water demand, system operation, and system design. Tracer studies have been performed to calculate water age throughout a distribution system, calibrate water quality and hydraulic models, and to enhance the study of water age in relation to water quality parameters such as chlorine residual. Mathematical models that represent the hydraulic and water quality behavior of the movement of water have been used to estimate water age in distribution system of Shanghai Pudong network. The relationship between water age and reliability was investigated when calibrating chlorine decay model in Pudong´ s network. The model was improved by tools for evaluating water age include hydraulic models, tracer studies, and monitoring programs.