Processes in water supply systems affecting water quality.

Currently, physical flow in water supply systems is very well understood, as is reflected by the spectrum of models available on the world market, which includes two Danish systems. However, a consistent model that can also predict the evolution of drinking water quality from the time it leaves the water treatment facility until it runs out of the consumer's tap is lacking. The bottleneck to credible water quality models is not mathematical formulations for currently understood processes, but the lack of parameters to describe much of the biologicial and chemical processes that take place in water supply systems. Basic fundamental understanding must be developed and the new information transferred into mathematical terms before the situation can be improved. We propose an integrated project that unites the skills and expertise of a multidisciplinary team to develop new understanding of microbial and chemical processes and to provide an improved model for predicting water quality evolution- The four themes are:
Advanced characterisation methods - development
Biological processes in water works and distribution systems
Chemicical processes in distribution systems
Integrated modelling of water supply systems.