Army installations have battled ongoing localized corrosion and water quality problems in their potable water distribution systems for many years. The problems are caused by a variety of chemical and hydraulic [pressure/flow] factors, including inconsistent water quality due to mixing of municipal and on-post sources, constantly-changing consumer demands due to soldier deployment and varying activities/missions, new construction that changes system behavior, localized low water velocities, and low storage tank turnover rates. The water in some areas of the system may becomes corrosive and/or stagnant as the corrosion inhibitors and disinfectants are consumed.

The work which will be presented involves the integration of several mature technologies into a complete corrosion detection and management system. Real-time data from corrosion rate, water quality, pressure and flow rate sensors will be automatically fed (via SCADA) into a computer based hydraulic simulation to provide Army installations with a “living model” that provides decision makers with continuous system-wide situational awareness of system performance. The simulation will provide a complete, highly accurate, and near real-time picture of system status at all locations based upon data from a relatively small number of sensors. Analytic/diagnostic software shall then analyze the data to provide diagnosis of corrosion and water quality-related problems, including remaining pipe service life.

As a result of several years of demonstrating [at Army installations] three major types of corrosion and water quality analytical instruments, data and information will be provided describing how sensors and dynamic models can all be integrated into a system which is of value to the day to day and long term planning of water distribution networks.