Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID OH_2023_Dong

Decision-tool to prioritize water line repair to combat water inequity

Institute: Ohio
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $30,172 Total Non-Federal Funds: $30,198

Principal Investigators: Yalin Dong

Project Summary: One of the Sustainable Development goals is to have universal, equitable, safe access to affordable drinking water. However, even in areas close to large fresh water sources, climate change has impacted the ability to provide sufficient quantity and quality of water for domestic use, thereby adding to growing water security concerns. The start of Covid-19 highlighted impact of inequity with more water being shut-off in homes of economically-disadvantaged. Although recent research has shown that machine learning can be used to predict where lines in the distribution system may break, it has not been used to identify water inequity areas. The primary objectives of this research are to use machine learning methodology to: i) Develop a user-friendly decision tool to identify the areas that experience water inequity; ii) Generate a priority investment plan for improvements/replacements to water lines in the distribution system; and iii) Use proof of concept as preliminary results to secure external funding to adapt decision tool into one that can be implemented across Ohio as well as other states.