Analysis of Undesirable Events Scenarios in Water Supply System by Means of Fault Tree Method

Abstract

The operation of water distribution subsystem (WDS) is inseparably linked with the possibility of occurrence of failures, which are often random. Such events can cause interruptions in the supply of water or secondary water pollution in the water-pipe network, which main reason are unfavourable hydraulic conditions of the network operation (low-speed flow), combined with older pipelines or chemical instability of water. In order to determine stationary and unstationary likelihood of occurrence of peak undesirable event (threat to water consumers) Fault Tree Analysis was used, utilizing BlockSim 7. The expanded fault tree for different combinations of failure scenarios, was analysed. The paper contains the methodology of the analysis and an example of application. © 2012, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland. All rights reserved.