Assessing and Managing Health Risks in Centralized Drinking Water Distribution Networks: From Theoretical Models to Practical Implementations
Doctoral thesis, 2024
hydraulic modelling
Gastrointestinal illness
water distribution network
health risk
quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA)
SB-H3, Sven Hultins Gata 6, Chalmers
Opponent: Mirjam Blokker, Principal Scientist/Associate Professor, KWR/TU Delft, Netherlands.
Author
Victor Vinas
Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Water Environment Technology
Health risks due to intrusion into the drinking water distribution network: hydraulic modelling and quantitative microbial risk assessment
Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology,;Vol. 9(2023)p. 1701-1716
Journal article
Cross-connections in drinking water distribution networks: Quantitative microbial risk assessment in combination with fault tree analysis and hydraulic modelling
Science of the Total Environment,;Vol. 831(2022)
Journal article
Overview of microbial risks in water distribution networks and their health consequences: quantification, modelling, trends, and future implications
Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering,;Vol. 46(2019)p. 149-159
Review article
Viñas, V., Modin, O., Odhiambo, M., Mohammadi, A., & Pettersson, T. J. R. Evaluating Microbial Contamination Risks in Drinking Water Networks Using Stochastic Modelling and Metagenomics
Sangroula, U., Viñas, V. & Pettersson, T.J.R. Integrating Machine Learning and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Health Risk Assessment in Water Distribution Networks
Is tap water making us sick?
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized access to safe drinking water as a universal human right. This means water should be free from microorganisms that may cause harm to humans, hence being considered microbially safe. In industrialized nations, safe drinking water is commonly transported from a treatment plant to the consumers through a system of pipes and other components known as the distribution network.
The distribution network may be susceptible to events that may contaminate the water on its way to consumers. These events may be detected in time to take preventive measures; however, many may remain undetected and contribute to the endemic burden of disease.
In this thesis, different methods to assess how the distribution network may be vulnerable to different contamination events and their consequences to human health were explored. The viability of using multiple sources of readily and not-so-readily available data was also tested.
This work aims to provide easy-to-use methods for water suppliers to assess the safety of the water they deliver through their distribution networks, thus aiding them in their mission to uphold this fundamental right.
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized access to safe drinking water as a universal human right. This means water should be free from microorganisms that may cause harm to humans, hence being considered microbially safe. In industrialized nations, safe drinking water is commonly transported from a treatment plant to the consumers through a system of pipes and other components known as the distribution network.
The distribution network may be susceptible to events that may contaminate the water on its way to consumers. These events may be detected in time to take preventive measures; however, many may remain undetected and contribute to the endemic burden of disease.
In this thesis, different methods to assess how the distribution network may be vulnerable to different contamination events and their consequences to human health were explored. The viability of using multiple sources of readily and not-so-readily available data was also tested.
This work aims to provide easy-to-use methods for water suppliers to assess the safety of the water they deliver through their distribution networks, thus aiding them in their mission to uphold this fundamental right.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Environmental Engineering
Water Engineering
ISBN
978-91-8103-160-7
Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 5618
Publisher
Chalmers
SB-H3, Sven Hultins Gata 6, Chalmers
Opponent: Mirjam Blokker, Principal Scientist/Associate Professor, KWR/TU Delft, Netherlands.