AWWA DSS60317

This paper describes the results of a recently completed American Water Works AssociationResearch Foundation (AwwaRF) and Kiwa funded project. The objectives of this project wereto: identify the criteria for assessing the water quality benefits of flushing operations;develop a methodology (and software) for conducting cost-benefit analysis for a utility's mainflushing program; and, evaluate the costs and benefits of flushing.The recommended 6-step approach to quantifying the costs and benefits of flushing consist of:identifing current flushing strategies (e.g. spot flushing, stagnant area flushing, and system-wideflushing) and methods (conventional, unidirectional, continuous blow-off); defining flushingobjectives (e.g. enhance chlorine residual); identifing benefits, costs, and associatedperformance measures (e.g., number of customer complaints reduced per unit cost); organizingthe data collection process; implementing changes in the flushing program; and, evaluatingalternative flushing practices.A software program was developed to compare flushing programs and assess their costs andbenefits. The program was tested at participating water utilities. This paper describes a typicaluse of the software program based on actual data collected through the surveys and utility casestudies.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

09/29/2004

Number of Pages:

9

File Size:

1 file , 340 KB