This study introduces a methodology for assessing the residence times of drinking water in distribution systems using a tracer. The injection of a tracer followed by an intensive sampling campaign was used to evaluate the residence times of water in Quebec City's main system, which is supplied by the St Charles River. Samples were also analysed to determine the hardness and conductivity of the water in order to identify interconnections with a neighbouring system supplied by the St Lawrence River, a source with different properties. To validate the assumptions of interconnectivity, a complementary conductivity campaign was carried out. The tracer campaign allowed us to obtain the mean residence times (MRTs) within the study area and to target areas with low and high MRTs between 6 and 33 h. The mixing zones between water from the various sources and with longer MRTs following a stay in a reservoir were also identified. Results of this study were used to develop strategies to minimise MRT in order to improve water quality. These strategies are presented in the ‘companion paper’ (Part II) in this issue.
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May 2015
This article was originally published in
Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua
Article Contents
Research Article|
December 30 2014
Tracer study to verify hydraulic limits and determine water residence times in a distribution system: Part I
François-Julien Delisle;
François-Julien Delisle
1Roche Ltd Consulting Group, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Simon Rochette;
Simon Rochette
2Department of Civil and Water Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Geneviève Pelletier;
3Department of Civil and Water Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, Pavillon Adrien Pouliot, 1065, avenue de la Médicine, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada
E-mail: [email protected]
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Manuel J. Rodriguez
Manuel J. Rodriguez
4ESAD, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2015) 64 (3): 365–377.
Article history
Received:
April 16 2014
Accepted:
November 17 2014
Citation
François-Julien Delisle, Simon Rochette, Geneviève Pelletier, Manuel J. Rodriguez; Tracer study to verify hydraulic limits and determine water residence times in a distribution system: Part I. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 May 2015; 64 (3): 365–377. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2014.050
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