Experimental quantification of intrusion volumes due to transients in drinking water distribution systems

Currently it is not possible to fully assess the risks to human health and wellbeing from contaminant intrusion into drinking water distribution systems due to lack of understanding and accurate estimation of intrusion volumes during dynamic pressure events. This paper presents results quantifying such volumes from carefully controlled but representative physical three-dimensional experiments. Results show how the volumes change as a function of the dynamics of the driving pressure and how these volumes can be estimated from the time integral of the measured driving head. Results also reveal the complex coupling of dynamic pressure behavior interacting with the leak orifice and the exchanged volumes. The findings of this work can be integrated within assessment frameworks to enable better estimation of intrusion volumes and hence management of risk to public health.