title: Multicausal analysis on water deterioration processes present in a drinking water treatment system.
abstract: The fluctuation of water turbidity has been studied during summer in the settling tanks of a drinking water treatment plant. Results from the multiple cause-effect model indicated that five main pathways interactively influenced thequalityof tank water. During rain, turbidity levels increased mainly as a result of decreasing pH and anaerobic reactions (partial effect = 68%). Increasing water temperature combined with dissolved oxygen concentration (partial effect = 64%) was the key parameterforcontrolling decreases in water turbidity during nighttime periods after a rainy day. The dominant factor influencing increases in turbidity during sunny daytime periods was algal blooms (partial effect = 86%). However, short-circuiting waves (partial effect = 77%) was the main cause for increased nighttime water turbidity after a sunny day. The trade offbetween regulatory pathways was responsible for environmental changes, and the outcome was determined by the comparative strengths of each pathway.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. wli@hit.edu.cn
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Changlong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Shaik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Firdoz
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water