Interpreting and estimating the risk of iron failures

Metals and particulates accumulate in the distribution system and are mobilised by hydraulic events which can result in discolouration and exceedance of regulatory standards. Traditional decision tools for targeting preventive work are single parameter, based for example on proportion of unlined iron pipe or the number of customer contacts per district metering area (DMA). We show that this approach is too simplistic and propose a multivariate Decision Tree process, using the Random Under-Sampling ensemble method. The outputs gave a classification of High or Low risk per DMA. Initial findings demonstrate an 80 % success rate in identifying high risk DMAs across the supply area for a UK water company

Understanding the costs of investigating coliform and E. coli detections during routine drinking water quality monitoring

Bacteriological failure investigations are crucial in the provision of safe, clean drinking water as part of a process of quality assurance and continual improvement. However, the financial implications of investigating coliform and Escherichia coli failures during routine water quality monitoring are poorly understood in the industry. The investigations for 737 coliform and E. coli failures across five UK water companies were analysed in this paper. The principal components of investigation costs were staff hours worked, re-samples collected, transportation, and special investigatory activities related to the sample collection location. The average investigation costs ranged from £575 for a customer tap failure to £4,775 for a water treatment works finished water failure. These costs were compared to predictions for US utilities under the Revised Total Coliform Rule. Improved understanding of the financial and staffing implications of investigating bacteriological failures can be used to budget operational expenditures and justify increased funding for preventive strategies