This is a project to evaluate the current status of alternative systems for delivery of municipal water to consumers, commercial concerns and industry. It will involve a retrospective assessment of the degree to which research on dual water systems that was conducted with support from the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 76-18499 (Multiple Water Supply for Urban Water Management) and 80-15075 (Alternative Technologies for Small Water System Management) has been influential in guiding adoption and engineering design of water distribution systems. The research is being conducted by three undergraduate students under the Interdisciplinary Studies Division of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Results of this project are expected to be applied toward determining any further research needs associated with the process by which engineers select concepts for and design of water delivery systems. The project is also expected to provide knowledge regarding improvement in the process by which results of research are made available to practicing environmental engineers.
