Water distribution systems complex contamination simulations for event detection model calibration and verification

Event detection is currently one of the most challenging topics in water distribution systems analysis. The problem is related to how regular on-line hydraulic (e.g., pressure, flow) and water quality (e.g., pH, free chlorine, conductivity, oxidation reduction potential, temperature) measurements can be efficiently utilized to designate a contamination occurrence. To date all experiments on testing event detection models are based on generating arbitrary manipulations of water quality parameters (e.g., through utilization of Gaussian probability density functions). Employment of such an approach is on the one hand generic, but on the other has no physical connection to the water distribution system's physical behavior. In fact, all event detection models to date for water distribution systems do not take advantage of the hydraulic/water quality understanding of the system in the decision process of event detection. This study describes some initial steps of utilizing EPANET-MSX for generating test contamination scenarios aimed at more realistically validate event detection models through complex contamination events simulation modelling.