Reliability-based design of water supply systems

Water supply is a vital need in emergencies such as natural disasters, for both response to major incidents such as large fires and hazardous material spills, and for potable needs of the population. Potable needs are obvious and are extremely elastic in the short term. However, for longer periods, major hardships result if the normal water supply is significantly disrupted. This was most recently seen in Kobe, as a result of the Hanshin earthquake, has been noted in other natural disasters, and was strikingly demonstrated in another (non-earthquake) setting - that of the refugee camps in Rwanda and Zaire, where in 1994 thousands of deaths resulted from unsanitary water conditions. The deployment of large diameter hose (LDH) systems to these camps quickly alleviated the situation, greatly reducing lifeless. Emergency water supply involves reconciling a number of competing uncertain factors - a review of recent efforts highlights these factors and provides a framework for broader application.