1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

West Cumbria Chlorine Decay Modelling

Colin Rimmer1
1
Atkins, Chadwick House, Birchwood Park, Warrington, WA3 6AE, UK.
1
colin.rimmer@atkinsglobal.com

ABSTRACT
In 2022 the water supply for customers within the West Cumbria area, which is situated in the
North-West region of England, will change. The existing three individual water sources that supply
the area will be abandoned and customers will be supplied by one single new water source. As part
of this strategic investment objective, United Utilities (UU), who deliver water and wastewater
services to the North-West region of England, had identified the need to undertake a Chlorine
Decay modelling exercise since they will be altering the network connectivity and extending the
residence time that treated water stays within the water network. The outputs of the study were used
to inform the United Utilities West Cumbria project team whilst also supporting United Utilities to
improve their overall chlorine decay strategy and chlorine residual management. This in turn
supports their regulatory performance commitments (also called ‘Outcome Delivery Incentives’) to
reduce customer contacts from chlorine for taste and odour.

Clean Water Modelling has been a key and fundamental tool for understanding the current and
predicted chlorine levels for customers in the future. The calibrated model has been used to confirm
the chlorine level required on the outlet of the proposed new water treatment works to give the
optimised solution. The model has also been used to ascertain whether secondary dosing will be
required within the network.

The paper will discuss the results and the best practice techniques used for the following tasks;
Black bottle testing, Field testing, Model configuration, Model calibration and Solution model
outputs.

Keywords: Chlorine Decay, Hydraulic Network Modelling, Optimising Chlorine Dosing.

1 Background
UU is investing in the construction of a new major water supply in West Cumbria, located in the
North-West region of England. This is defined as the ‘West Cumbria Water Supplies Project –
Thirlmere Transfer’ and is being undertaken to provide essential linkage between the area and the
wider water network, and responds to a number of existing supply-demand issues and future
changes to existing abstraction licenses. The scheme involves;
I. Installation of a major new raw water aqueduct/pipeline from Thirlmere reservoir to
Bridekirk.
II. The construction of a new Water Treatment Works at Bridekirk.
 1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

III. The construction of new treated water pipelines, pipe lining, pumping stations and service
reservoirs within the treated water network.
In addition to improving water supply quality and connectivity, implementation of the scheme will
reduce the amount of water taken from naturally occurring and biodiversity rich water sources by
utilising spare capacity within Thirlmere reservoir’s abstraction license.
As part of this strategic investment objective, UU identified the need to undertake a Chlorine Decay
modelling exercise as they will be altering the network connectivity and extending the residence
time the treated water stays in the network. Given that some of the West Cumbria areas currently
experience low level residuals, it is very likely that this will be exacerbated when the new scheme is
up and running.

2 Methods
The approach for the West Cumbria Chlorine Decay study comprised of the following 6 steps.

2.1 Review of Existing Water Quality and Hydraulic Model

The West Cumbria distribution system is currently supplied by four WTWs: Ennerdale, Cornhow,
Quarry Hill and Bridge End. The historical water quality data from all four WTWs was reviewed
focusing on the key parameters that are expected to contribute to bulk decay of chlorine within
water mains. The last five years of water quality data was provided by UU.

Figure 1. Graph of Free Chlorine

The hydraulic model set-up and operation, including pump and reservoir controls was assessed and
reviewed to assist with field test planning. The approach did not include a full verification of the
hydraulic model; it was assumed that the model was fit for purpose for this study. Any apparent
model anomalies or fixes that could have impacted on the water quality calibration were completed
and documented.

2.2 Black bottle sampling and laboratory testing of source waters

The primary purpose of the Black Bottle Tests was to determine the rate of decay of chlorine in the
bulk of the water, excluding pipe wall effects, for each of the three sources; Cornhow, Ennerdale
 1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

and Quarry Hill WTWs. Samples were also taken at Bridge End WTW, as this will be used as a
surrogate for the planned Williamsgate treatment works, which will also be supplied from
Thirlmere Lake.
Chlorine decay within the water supply network is influenced by a range of factors. The bulk decay
coefficient, which is established through the black bottle tests, is a function of chlorine
concentration, temperature and water quality. The temperature and water quality of surface water
sources may show significant seasonal variation, together with the organic species and soluble
metals present in the water that will impact on the chlorine demand. Therefore, two rounds of
sampling were planned to derive decay rates for the winter/spring and summer/autumn periods, to
coincide with minimum and maximum water temperatures and levels of organics.

Figure 2. Ennerdale WTW Black Bottle Test Results

2.3 Chlorine logging at key locations across the network

Due to the size and complexity of the area, it would not have been feasible to test the whole area
together; therefore, the zones were sub-divided into 7 areas based on hydraulic boundaries.
Monitoring locations within each sub area were then selected to cover the following key locations:
• Water Treatment Works outlet.
• Reservoir inlets / Reservoir outlets.
• Upstream and downstream of intermediate dosing points.
• 1x monitor per District Metered Area.
The monitors recorded chlorine levels and temperature changes.
 1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

Figure 3. Chlorine Monitor Locations

2.4 Model calibration and development of a working model

The calibration of the model involved the following tasks:
• Updating the hydraulic model with the base demands for the relevant field test.
• Assigning appropriate bulk coefficient from black bottle test results of source supplying sub-
model.
• Assigning a single reference temperature calculated based on field test data.
• Ensuring the model runs for extended period based on max time of travel plus 3 days.
• Adjusting kw values in order to achieve a target 0.1mg/l maximum error (highlighting any
cases where this cannot be achieved).
The summer and winter working models were then developed by translating wall decay
characteristics from the calibrated models, applying the surrogate bulk decay coefficients and
defining a winter and summer temperature based on historic data.

2.5 Highlight areas with high wall coefficients for further investigation
The thematic plot below highlights the pipes within the network that required a wall coefficient
during the calibration process. The wall coefficients can be influenced by a range of factors – in
particular the age and condition of the pipelines. Corrosion and biofilm development are two key
factors and this understanding can be used to target rehabilitation or replacement programmes.
 1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

Figure 4. High Wall Coefficient Thematic Plot

2.6 Use working model to identify need / locations for secondary dosing and
initial set levels from the new source
The calibrated model was used as a tool to identify the expected free chlorine residuals through the
network. The real benefit of this calibrated model is that the chlorine level at key locations
(potential secondary chlorination sites) can be modified and the effect within the downstream
network assessed.
The ability to control chlorine levels in the network (rather than simply increasing the chlorine
residual leaving Williamsgate) is that chlorine levels remain within the targets band for all
customers.
Locations within the network that may be suitable for secondary chlorination (such as service
reservoirs or pumping stations) were identified. The suitability for managing water quality was
tested by running the model under the surrogate summer and winter bulk decay coefficients,
temperatures and average day demand conditions. The plot in figure 5 below shows the results and
output from the working model.
 1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

Figure 5. Working model results

3 Conclusions
The outputs of this study have been used to inform the West Cumbria project team the overall
chlorine decay strategy and the chlorine residual management. This will support the Outcome
Delivery Incentives to reduce customer contacts for taste and odour related to chlorine.
The following objectives were completed:
• The chlorine level required on the outlet of the proposed Williamsgate WTW that will give
the best optimised solution was establish for both the winter and summer seasonal demands.
• The secondary disinfection requirements and the optimum location was established to ensure
that free chlorine residual targets monitored at the customers’ taps throughout the entire
network supplied comply, under all weather conditions, with the following constraints: <0.5
mg/l and 80% or more of measurements >0.1 mg/l.
• Areas of high chlorine demand were highlighted with the potential for mains cleaning and/or
replacement.
1st International WDSA / CCWI 2018 Joint Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada – July 23-25, 2018

Figure 6. Optimised dosing for seasonal demands