Disinfection Resiliency and Microbial Risk in Drinking Water Distribution Systems During Extreme Heat Disasters

Extreme heat disasters are increasingly common across the US, with many cities experiencing multiple consecutive days above 95°F (35°C). Extreme heat directly impacts drinking water quality by increasing the water temperature within distribution systems. High temperatures can compromise the efficacy of disinfection against microbial pathogens by increasing the decay rates of disinfectant residuals in distribution systems.

Warmer temperatures can simultaneously stimulate growth of opportunistic pathogens which can cause acute illness or death. Thus, the failure of disinfection in drinking water distribution systems during an extreme heat disaster could cause a community outbreak of illness that would further stress hospital resources and lead to loss of life. This Disaster Resilience Research Grants (DRRG) project will contribute to understanding the risk of extreme heat to the microbial and chemical safety of drinking water and help identify engineering solutions to build water system resilience.

The findings will inform water utility disaster response and preparedness plans, ensuring the ability to provide clean water during extreme heat events. Findings will be communicated to utilities through stakeholder organizations and targeted outreach to at-risk water systems, such as those serving low-income communities along the Southwestern border that experience frequent extreme heat events.

This project provides an enriching experience for graduate and undergraduate trainees at two diverse public universities and will introduce underrepresented students to exciting, impactful STEM research. The transfer of knowledge between two early career investigators will prime both labs for future innovations in water quality and resilience engineering.

This project will evaluate the effect of extreme heat on efficacy of disinfection in drinking water distribution systems and evaluate a novel engineering solution to increase resiliency. Most disinfection studies are limited to