Technical hazard identification in water treatment using fault tree analysis

• Published in: Canadian journal of civil engineering Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 897 - 906
• Main Authors: Beauchamp, Nicolas, Lence, Barbara J, Bouchard, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, ON National Research Council of Canada 01.06.2010; NRC Research Press; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: agent pathogène; Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Civil engineering; Cryptosporidium; Cryptosporidium parvum; eau potable; Exact sciences and technology; failure modes; Fault tree analysis; Faults; fiabilité; filters; filtres; Hazardous wastes; Health hazards; Health risks; Infections; Membrane separation; membranes; modes de défaillance; Occupational hazards; Oocysts; Operational hazards; Parasitic protozoa; Pathogens; potable water; Purification; Qualitative research; reliability; Tasks; Trains; Ultrafiltration; usines de traitement des eaux; Waste management; Water; Water supply. Pipings. Water treatment; Water treatment; Water treatment plants; Canada; Case study; Drinking water treatment; Fault tree; Filter; Drinking water treatment plant; Membrane; Qualitative analysis; Risk analysis; Reliability; Failure mode and effect analysis; Method study; Result
• ISSN: 0315-1468; 1208-6029
• DOI: 10.1139/L10-035

In this qualitative paper, a method for technical and operational hazard identification of a water treatment plant is described. Here, fault tree analysis is applied to a physicochemical ultrafiltration (UF) membrane train, with the objectives of developing a systematic approach for organizing and improving our understanding of the hazards at the treatment plant operational level that affect the risk of infection from the pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum. The approach was successful in identifying many technical and operational hazards. The fault tree shows that water treatment plant operation is a complex task where many factors must be taken into account. Regarding the removal of C. parvum oocysts, most initiating events relate to the filtration step in the UF system. In the future, quantification of the probability of fault events may help to prioritize interventions at the operational level.