Influence of Network Model Detail on Estimated Health Effects of Drinking Water Contamination Events
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Environmental Science Division
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cincinnati, OH (United States). National Homeland Security Research Center
Network model detail can influence the accuracy of results from analyses of water distribution systems. Some previous work has shown the limitations of skeletonized network models when considering water quality and hydraulic effects. Loss of model detail is potentially less important for aggregated effects such as the systemwide health effects associated with a contamination event, but has received limited attention. The influence of model detail on such effects is examined here by comparing results obtained for contamination events using three large network models and several skeletonized versions of the models. Loss of model detail decreases the accuracy of estimated aggregated adverse effects related to contamination events. It has the potential to have a large negative influence on the results of consequence assessments and the design of contamination warning systems. But, the adverse influence on analysis results can be minimized by restricting attention to high percentile effects (i.e., 95th percentile or higher).
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USEPA
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1393929
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Vol. 141, Issue 1; ISSN 0733-9496
- Publisher:
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
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