Experimental Quantification of Intrusion Due to Transients in Distribution Systems

In water distribution systems, rapid changes in flow can create short duration large magnitude pressure waves, known as transients. Previous research has linked extreme low-pressure transients with contaminant intrusion, which presents a risk to public health. Representative physical experiments have been undertaken at the University of Sheffield using a novel large-scale system. This has allowed for the quantification of the volume of intrusion drawn into the pipe for a range of initial system conditions. Analysis of the results demonstrates that the volume of intrusion is connected to the duration and magnitude of the negative pressure transient.