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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Shawn P. McElmurry
Abstract
ABSTRACTEQUITY AND RESILIENCE OF AGING DRINKING WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS by FELICE GIANLUCA SPERONE December 2024 Advisor: Dr. Shawn P. McElmurry Major: Civil Engineering Degree: Doctor of Philosophy The 20th century saw significant advancements in water infrastructure by enhancing global water reliability and quality; particularly in the United States, where these improvements contributed to major public health gains and have extended life expectancy. New challenges, such as changing climatic conditions, old infrastructure and shrinking cities, threaten system resilience and water quality. This research addresses the urgent need to equitably enhance drinking water distribution systems, particularly in vulnerable communities that are disproportionately affected by inadequate and old infrastructures. This dissertation focuses on three main aims: (1) to evaluate factors associated with boil water notices (BWNs) during extreme weather events, (2) derive a data-driven approach for resizing old infrastructure pipes in oversized systems, and (3) assessing the equity of these resizing approaches. During Winter Storm Uri, data from Texas public water systems were more likely to issue BWNs following the severe weather, and these periods of recovery were longer in marginalized communities. Based on water distribution system models of Flint, Michigan, indices, or Diameter Assessment Factors (DAF), were developed to identify which pipes can be downsized while ensuring system resilience during fire events. Results suggest that downsizing pipes identified as oversized based on pipe water velocity (i.e., DAFV) is the best approach for identifying which pipes can be downsized while maintaining system pressure. Finally, potential equity issues associated with downsizing pipes in Flint, Michigan when using the DAF methods were also explored. Socio-economic factors were found to be integrally linked to DAF scores. These results will help policymakers and water system managers develop proactive, equitable right-sizing strategies.
Recommended Citation
Sperone, Felice, "Equity And Resilience Of Aging Drinking Water Distribution Systems" (2024). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4143.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4143