Implementing a hydraulic model to develop a unidirectional flushing program

Secondary standards indicate an acceptable turbidity level from municipal drinking water is below 5 NTU (Smith, 1998). Residents of the City of Brookings are receiving water with turbidity far below this level, but turbidity within the system has spiked on occasion in recent years. The City flushes the distribution system twice a year using conventional flushing procedures. Flushing has been performed in the overnight hours in the last several years to reduce customer exposure to turbidity spikes during the flushing program.; The objective of this project was to develop a calibrated hydraulic model of the City's distribution system and use it to develop a unidirectional flushing program. An optimum flushing velocity of 5 fps was determined for the distribution system and procedures for developing a unidirectional flushing program were established.; This study investigates flushing techniques used by the City of Brookings and evaluates the effectiveness of their current flushing procedures.