TABLE OF CONTENTS Fred E.Goldman
Goldman, Toy, and Associates, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ
A.Burcu Altan Sakarya
Department of Civil Engineering
Middle East Technical University
Ankara, Turkey
Lindell E.Ormsbee
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
James G.Uber
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Larry W.Mays
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
The operation of a water system involves turning pumps on and off, regulating tank storage, providing disinfection, and delivering good-quality water to customers at a reasonable flow and pressure. The water utility relies on good engineering design and the skill and expertise of its management and operators to meet these goals reliably. Books of procedures and operation manuals are developed to provide standardization and to help staff improve quality control. The performance assistance documents are continually revised and updated as the water system is expanded or modified and when new technologies and methods are adopted. Even with these valuable tools, unpredictable events, such as line breaks, fires, and the dreaded failed coliform test, will occur. Pumps and valves randomly break down and compromise the system s integrity, resulting in interrupted service. The situation may have a remedy available in the performance documents, but, the experience of the operators usually is what saves the day.
Optimization models are being developed that can help the skilled management and personnel to improve the system s operation and respond to emergencies. As computers become more powerful and affordable, the transfer of these methods...
