Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41451341›Full record

ArticleWater2025

Modeling the Tradeoff Between Water Loss, Chlorine Residuals, and Trihalomethanes in Rural Appalachia, USA.

George Fordjour, Yogesh Gautam, Lindell Ormsbee, Scott Yost, Jason Unrine

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Water, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

George FordjourDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-0187-3463
Yogesh GautamPublic Works Division, Saint Paul, MN 55102, USA.
Lindell OrmsbeeDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6762-5847
Scott YostDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
Jason UnrineDepartment of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3012-5261

Funding

Pilot Project ProgramP30ES026529 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI Erin N Haynes · 2017 to 2026
$15.4M
A university-community partnership to reduce exposure to disinfection byproducts in AppalachiaR01ES032396 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI Anna Goodman Hoover, Jason Unrine · 2021 to 2026
$2.5M
NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES026529NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES032396
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Small rural water utilities in the Appalachia region of the US often experience extreme water loss while struggling to maintain water quality compliance. This study quantifies the impact of reducing water loss on distribution system water quality in Martin County, Kentucky. Hydraulic and water quality models were developed, calibrated, and validated using EPANET for chlorine residuals and KYPIPE for trihalomethane (TTHM) formation. The models evaluated water loss reduction scenarios ranging from the current 70% to the industry target of 15%. Results showed that lowering water loss increased residence times, causing chlorine residual declines of 22-68%, with one site falling to the 0.2 mg/L threshold. TTHM concentrations increased by 12-18% in winter-spring and 26-44% in summer-fall, with two sites exceeding the individual 0.080 mg/L maximum contaminant level. These novel findings indicate that reducing water loss can unintentionally degrade water quality, underscoring the need for integrated planning. Recommended mitigation strategies include seasonal operational adjustments, water source and TTHM precursor management, optimized tank management, targeted flushing, and phased infrastructure upgrades. The modeling framework developed offers potential for broader application in other rural systems facing similar challenges.

Indexed as

Appalachian water utilitieschlorine residual modelingEPANEThydraulic modelingKYPIPETTHM modelingwater distribution systemswater loss optimizationwater quality modeling

Identifiers

PMID41451341
PMCPMC12733702

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.