title: Evaluation of suitable chlorine bulk-decay models for water distribution systems.
abstract: Maintaining the chlorine residual is a major disinfection goal for many water distribution systems. A suitable general chlorine bulk-decay model is required for simulation of chlorine profiles in networks to assist disinfection planning/management efficiently. The first-order model is unsuitable due to inaccuracy and inability to represent rechlorination. Three potentially suitable, simple, reactant models were compared. The single-reactant model was found to be unsuitable, as it was inaccurate when restricted to using a single set of invariant parameters. The two-reactant model was more suitable than the variable-rate-coefficient model, although both models were accurate under the same restriction. The two-reactant model was then calibrated against datasets consisting of multiple decay tests for five distinctly different waters. It accurately predicted data reserved for validation over the chlorine concentration range of 0-6 mg/L, using a single set of invariant parameters, and is therefore the simplest, generally suitable model for simulating chlorine profiles in distribution system networks.
authors.affiliation: Watervale Systems Pty Ltd, PO Box 318, Potts Point, NSW 1335, Australia. ianfishau@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kastl
authors.forename: Arumugam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sathasivan
mesh_terms: D002713:Chlorine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D002713:Chlorine