A case-study on the prediction of biological activity on a real-life water distribution network

<p dir="ltr">Water distribution systems (WDSs) are critical infrastructure components that deliver treated drinking water from treatment plants to consumers. While designed to maintain water quality, these systems are dynamic environments where physical, chemical, and biological processes interact continuously. Among these, biological activity—including microbial regrowth, biofilm formation, and pathogen proliferation—poses significant challenges to water quality maintenance and public health. Factors such as residual disinfectant decay, temperature fluctuations, flow conditions, and the presence of biodegradable organic matter contribute to the complexity of microbial behaviour in WDSs. Understanding and predicting these biological phenomena are essential for proactive system management and for meeting regulatory standards.</p><p dir="ltr">This paper was presented at the 21st Computing and Control in the Water Industry Conference (CCWI 2025) at the University of Sheffield (1st - 3rd September 2025).</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>