AWWA JAW70706

The potential for contamination of water distribution systems is a growing public health concern. To mitigate potential contamination events, accurate prediction of solute transport through water distribution pipe networks is crucial. However, most models of flow and transport through pipe networks assume contaminants mix instantaneously and completely at pipe junctions. In many cases, this leads to a poor representation of the actual mixing behavior, consequently leading to potentially inaccurate contaminant source detection and vulnerability and risk assessments. This article presents data comparisons and new models for mixing in several different junction configurations: a new bulk-advective mixing (BAM) model; EPANET-BAM, an augmented version of the widely used U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPANET software; and, an even newer BAM-WRAP model, not yet implemented in EPANET-BAM. These new models provide more accurate assessments of solute/contaminant concentrations throughout the water distribution network, which will be useful for risk and exposure assessments to protect public health. Includes 15 references, tables, figures.