Water System Service Categories, Post-Earthquake Interaction, and Restoration Strategies

Abstract

This paper illustrates the relation between resilience and water system serviceability, and the dependence of community resilience on water system resilience. Five normally provided water system service categories are defined: water delivery, quality, quantity, fire protection, and functionality. Water system performances are described in terms of how these services are provided to customers after an earthquake in relation to pre-earthquake services. The important distinction between system operability and functionality is defined. The characteristics of each service restoration and how they interact are explained. A case study from the Los Angeles Water System is presented to show applicability of the five service categories in actual post-earthquake restorations. The examined service restoration features can be used as engineering and management principles to improve overall service restoration. Some strategies for improving post-earthquake services and their restorations are presented in the context of the five service categories. Reviewing the five water service categories identifies how water system resilience is more complex than previously recognized.