Response to the Extreme Weather EventNovember 2010 – January 2011

The Westmeath Experience

Presentation to DWIRP Seminar

Greg Duggan SEWestmeath Co. Co.Water Services 9th March 2011

Ladestown, Lough EnnellLadestown, Lough Ennell

Westmeath Water Distribution Network

•Approx 1,250 km of water mains•over 100 years old in parts•various materials & diameters

•Approximately 8,000 hydrants, valves, other fittings•34,000 connections

Initial period of low temperatures:

– 22nd Nov. 2010, for 33 consecutive days, ending 25th Dec. 2010

Temperature ranged from 0 ºC to –15 ºC

50mm to 100mm snow fell on morning of 30th Nov. 2010

Westmeath Climate Conditions

Summary of Westmeath Climate Conditions

Weather Event

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

18

/11

/10

21

/11

/10

24

/11

/10

27

/11

/10

30

/11

/10

03

/12

/10

06

/12

/10

09

/12

/10

12

/12

/10

15

/12

/10

18

/12

/10

21

/12

/10

24

/12

/10

27

/12

/10

30

/12

/10

02

/01

/11

05

/01

/11

08

/01

/11

11

/01

/11

Date (22nd Nov. 2010 – 9th Jan. 2011)

Te

mp

era

ture

0C

Rainfall (mm)Max TempMin Tempground min Temp

Preventive Measures – Leaflet Drop40,000 delivered by An Post (– early Nov 2010)

Preventative Measures – Radio Adverts

Click to Play

Adverts played 3 slots daily – 2 versions of adverts – long & short

Long Version

Short Version

Effect of Temperature drop on supply systems

• Consumption in Westmeath on 22nd Nov. 2010 was

34,000m3/day

• At low raw water temperatures the effectiveness of chemicals

and (mechanical) filters used in treating water are

significantly reduced

• Leads to longer reservoir recharge times to replace increased

consumption on the network

Raw Water Temperatures• Raw water temperatures fell from 6.3 ºC to 0.7 ºC over the period

Effect of Temperature drop on supply systems

Period of ThawPeriod of Freezing

Increasing Consumption Levels

• Lowest temperatures experienced between 18th – 25th Dec. 2010

• Daily consumption levels increased due to some leakage but mostly wastage by “running taps”

• Consumption, which peaked at 42,856m3/day on 22nd Dec. 2010, represented an increase of over 26% on normal consumption levels and was unsustainable

• There were 10 bursts to large watermains (some inside vacant industrial units) during this initial low temperature phase and 16 bursts to smaller service mains

• This had the knock-on effect of reducing reservoir storage capacity on the distribution network every day for over 18 days

Effect of Temperature drop on supply systems

• Normal wastewater inflow to Mullingar Wastewater Treatment Plant is 9,000m3/day

• During severe weather period, inflow ranged from 10,000m3/day – 12,500m3/day and peaked at 14,100m3/day

• No rainfall, therefore this inflow can be attributed to consumers “running taps”

Effect of Temperature drop on supply systems

Where did the water go?

Treated Water Production

• The production capacity at the four water treatment plants rose from a normal 34,000m3/day to a peak of 42,856 m3/day.

• This represents an increase in production of 26% to meet demand levels

• In order to meet this increased demand, production was augmented in Mullingar with the use of a UV treatment facility, operated within protocols previously agreed with the EPA and HSE

• The remaining Plants had sufficient spare treatment capacity

Effect of Temperature drop on supply systems

Initial Response

• This level of production was unsustainable

• Distribution networks failed to deliver water to outlying storage reservoirs

• Water supply shut downs were initiated to control both leakage levels and recharge/recovery levels in reservoirs

• Night time shutdowns were carried out in various areas from 27th Dec. 2010 until 7th Jan. 2011– Contrast with Dec 2009/Jan 2010 event, when night time

shutdowns continued to March

Effect of Temperature drop on supply systems

Effect of Temperature RISE on supply systems

• Thaw occurred on 26th/27th Dec. 2010 with a temperature rise of 20ºC (–15ºC to +5ºC) over a period of 36 hours

• Sudden temperature differential prompted ground heave and led to major bursts on distribution mains– 18 large diameter (>100mm) mains bursts

– 354 smaller service pipe leaks

• 2,654 meter chambers/control units also leaked at the spacer bar insert

Repairs

• Mains Bursts (>100mm Diameter Pipes)

• Mains Bursts (< 100mm Diameter pipes)

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

Repairs

• Service Pipe Bursts • Control Unit Bursts

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

• Incident room manned from 15th Dec. 2010 to 7th Jan. 2011

– except 25th & 26th Dec. 2010

• 5 water tankers & 19 Water “Aqua Cubes” deployed

– 1m3 & 2m3

• Over 50 standpipes were deployed in the County

• In a number of towns, Westmeath County Council sought the

co-operation of local Residents Associations in the operation of

standpipes and this model proved effective

Westmeath County Council Response

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

Westmeath County Council Response (cont.)

• 119 staff were involved in managing water supplies at the peak

of the response

• These included:

– Water Services Caretaking Staff, General Outdoor Staff, Water Conservation Staff,

Supervisors, Technical, Engineering and Administrative Support

• 8,822 hours worked from the 26th Dec. 2010 to 7th Jan. 2011

• Council Staff responded to and repaired:

– 44 leaks to the public water mains

– 2,654 leaks at individual Control Units

– 365 leaks at service pipe connections

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

Westmeath County Council Response (cont.)

• The Council deployed the Civil Defence to

deliver water to vulnerable members of the

community

• At the height of the crisis, Civil Defence Staff

delivered water to between 25 & 50 households

every day

• Westmeath Local Authorities dealt with 10,600

telephone calls during this period

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

New 2m3 and 1m3 portable emergency supply tanks

Dispensing taps on bottom of units

1m3 2m3

Athlone Area 5 0

Coole 0 0

Kilbeggan 4 0

Mullingar 10 5

“Aqua Cube” Stock Available

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

Welfare Facilities

Welfare Facilities

Stock of stand pipes deployed in Areas

Athlone: 14

Coole: 6

Kilbeggan: 17

Mullingar: 20

Standpipes were given to local Residents Associations to operate at agreed times – this arrangement worked well

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

Welfare Facilities

Water services procured over 1,000 reusable water bags, which were distributed to all areas affected

Effect of Temperature rise on supply systems

Water Conservation – Fighting Back!

• Earlier investment in Water Conservation efforts proved invaluable– 82 District Metering Areas (DMAs) established and

calibrated– Dedicated trained staff in leak detection– Data gathered at DMA bulk meters every 15 minutes and

transferred nightly to LMARS system– Data processed by “Primeworks” software– Used to identify and quantify water loss– Produces “league table” of worst performing DMAs

• Web-based SCADA system

Typical SCADA Screen Layout

DWIRP Map – Mullingar Town Independent Valve Closures to Extend Storage

Total Minimum Night Flow (m3/hr)

Differences (MLD)

(taken over 20 hours)

Water Schemes 1 Nov 2010

21 Jan 2011

11 Feb 2011 1 Nov 2010

21 Jan 2011

11 Feb 2011

Recovery to date (MLD)

Athlone Annagh 169.1 236.3 218.6 - 1.35 0.99 0.36

Battery Heights 42.6 70.6 62.4 - 0.56 0.40 0.16

Coosan 43.8 55.9 45.8 - 0.24 0.04 0.20

Moate Moate 43.2 55.0 55.5 - 0.24 0.25 – 0.01

Castlepollard High Level 41.2 58.3 50.0 0.34 0.18 0.16

Low Level 100.8 146.0 142.7 - 0.90 0.84 0.06

MullingarTown Independent 248.6 326.9 301.8 - 1.56 1.06 0.50

High Level 176.6 232.7 211.0 1.12 0.69 0.43

Low Level 46.7 78.6 75.4 - 0.64 0.57 0.07

Taughmon 104.0 116.5 105.5 - 0.25 0.03 0.22

Total Min. Night Flows 1,016.6 1,376.8 1,268.7 Total Losses 7.20 5.05 2.15

Water Conservation – Applying Resources and Materials

UFW increases per Water Supply Scheme(consumption m3 per day)

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

350.0

9/10/10 29/10/10 18/11/10 8/12/10 28/12/10 17/1/11 6/2/11 26/2/11 18/3/11

Annagh

Battery Heights

Coosan

Moate

High Level

Low Level

Town Independent

High Level

Low Level

Taughmon

An Improved Response

Applying lessons learned in 2009/2010 to the 2010/2011 incident

Advance Media & Communications

• In advance of Winter period (early Nov.) Information Leaflet circulated to all property owners on necessary steps for protection of their water supply

• Daily Press Release (local radio & newspapers)– Commenced 4th December 2010

• 6no. radio interviews• 10no. interviews with local press• Adverts re: frozen & burst pipes placed on local radio

– 3 slots per day

• Council website– Situation report updated daily from the 4th December 2010– Detailed advice

Incident Management

• Incident Room established 15th Dec 2010– Quicker set-up than in Dec 2009

• Twice daily crisis management meetings– Better familiarity with roles than previous incident

– 9am & 4pm

– Reservoir levels, leak detection/repairs, welfare measures

– Communications, website / press releases

Incident Log SheetIncident log sheet used during severe weather Dec 2009 and now included in the DWIRP

Phone Communications• Complaints viewed as valuable information

• 4no. out-of-hours emergency phone numbers available, including the 25th & 26th Dec

• Main switch on 7 day basis from 20th Dec. to 7th Jan. (excluding 25th & 26th Dec.)

• Initially 4 staff; increased to 8 staff on phones

• Giving advice, recording problems, leaks etc

• Information gathered was collated and transferred to Area Offices to target actions and maximize resources

Telephone Statistics

Advance Operational Preparations

• Increased treatment capacity at Mullingar Plant– Prevented prolonged period of shut-downs that stress pipe work

• Purchase of dedicated 18m3 water tanker

• Purchase of “Aqua Cubes” and standpipes/fittings

• Adapted SCADA alarms to high-flow triggers

• SCADA modified to indicate reservoir residence times– hours remaining, rather than just water level

Civil Defence

• Mobilised 20th Dec (Sat) – 7th Jan

• 3 crews in 4 wheel drive vehicles

• Worked with WCC water tankers

• 25 to 50 calls daily to vulnerable, elderly, disabled households

Issues identified in Emergency Cover

• Emergency on-call system to be reviewed where large volume of calls are anticipated

• Pressure on staff if crisis prolonged

• Greater use of Residents Associations

• Number of leaks at domestic control units

• Water Treatment Plant capacity

Further Actions• Continue to pursue planning enforcement re: control boxes /

service pipe depths

• Advance Mains Rehabilitation Schemes in Mullingar & Athlone

• Source more flexible/resilient spacer bar for meter boxes

• Establish panel of plumbers with appropriate equipment to free frozen services

• Continue pro-active Water Conservation

• Continue to enhance treatment plant capacity & reservoir storage

• Review planning condition for water connections to public mains

Improvements to DWIRP

• Develop specific incident management procedures and actions to the event (weather, contamination,…)

• “Complaints” to be viewed as valuable source of information

• Information gathered in emergency used to refine DWIRP response (constant improvement)

• Incident Room to have maps of sufficient detail to show areas affected by shut-downs, bursts etc

• “Live” mapping, GIS based – click on property to view in wider area

• Repair data captured electronically and transmitted to Areas for action

ENDEND