Date of Last Revision
2023-05-02 18:59:01
Major
Civil Engineering - Cooperative Education
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2016
Abstract
Chlorination is one of the most common methods of treating pathogens and ensuring microbial water quality in water treatment and distribution. As chlorinated water leaves the source and travels through the water distribution system, the chlorine reacts with both the organic compounds (dissolved organic carbon, DOC) in the source water and the corrosion or biofilm of the pipe walls. The chlorine concentration, or chlorine residuals, at any point in the water distribution system is a good measure of water quality. At the same time, chlorination produces disinfection byproducts as the chlorine also reacts with other naturally-occurring materials in the water. Some of these byproducts, including trihalomethanes (THM), pose health risks. There are three primary operational management methods of controlling chlorine residual and THM formation; varying the chlorine dose at the water treatment plant, changing the water quality leaving the water treatment plant, and altering the water quality sampling time. By using a calibrated EPANET model of the City of Akron’s water distribution system and operational data from the City of Akron’s Water Treatment plant a Matlab model was developed to analyze chlorine residual and THM formation. The results show that chlorine dose is more of a driver of THM formation than the water quality leaving the plant or water sampling time and is where the city should focus is operational optimization.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Christopher Miller
First Reader
Dr. Stephen Duirk
Second Reader
Dr. William Schneider
Recommended Citation
James, Chelsea, "Operational And Water Quality Analysis for The City of Akron's Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System" (2016). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 369.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/369