Developing a Methodology to Establish Response Zones based on Travel Time for Controlling the Spread of Water Quality Incidents in Water Supply Systems

Water quality issues may arise within the water pipe network system due to external contamination from water leaks, aging pipes leading to damage, and the presence of suspended sediments resulting from changes in hydraulic direction. Promptly addressing these water quality problems during the supply process is crucial, as delays can swiftly escalate health risks for residents and cause economic damage to the region. Therefore, developing control techniques is imperative to minimize the rapid dissemination of accidents. This study aims to proactively identify and calculate the spread pattern of water quality incidents within the pipe network, utilizing residence time as a critical factor. A practical and efficient spread control zoning methodology was proposed to curtail the expansion of accidents. Applying the proposed methodology to the pipe network system in Cty A (Korea) involved quantitative analysis of newly defined areas based on the target residence time intended for practical management and control during water quality accidents. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the proposed method offers the potential to establish a novel concept of a response area for rapid reactions to water quality incidents. This facilitates the design of a zone centered around valves essential for crisis response, thereby creating an area with precise control over the spread of water quality accidents within a target response time.