This thesis is broken into two parts. The first part, Chapters 1 - 7, focuses on work completed performing partial performance assessments in two case studies: the region of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area, and Tláhuac, Mexico. In both, pressure transients were monitored using high-speed sensors. The second part, Chapters 8 - 10, proposes a framework for performance assessments of water transmission and distribution systems, primarily applicable to analysis and operation yet useful in (re)design or additional design work as well. The framework is a synthesis of concepts ranging from fuzzy engineering to psychology and human factors, and will be of particular interest to larger, more sophisticated water utilities who may have a general understanding of their systems but lack specific insights in its operation and operational effectiveness. Careful consideration is given to not only the type of information and possible information fusion, but also details of necessary software and hardware, including possibilities for the system architecture.

This thesis is broken into two parts. The first part, Chapters 1 - 7, focuses on work completed performing partial performance assessments in two case studies: the region of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area, and Tláhuac, Mexico. In both, pressure transients were monitored using high-speed sensors. The second part, Chapters 8 - 10, proposes a framework for performance assessments of water transmission and distribution systems, primarily applicable to analysis and operation yet useful in (re)design or additional design work as well. The framework is a synthesis of concepts ranging from fuzzy engineering to psychology and human factors, and will be of particular interest to larger, more sophisticated water utilities who may have a general understanding of their systems but lack specific insights in its operation and operational effectiveness. Careful consideration is given to not only the type of information and possible information fusion, but also details of necessary software and hardware, including possibilities for the system architecture.

The Middle Eastern region encompassing Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza) is an arid region with fast growing populations. Adequate and equitable access to water for all the people of the region is crucial to the future of Middle East peace. However, the current water distribution system not only fails to provide an adequate and equitable allocation of water, but also results adverse impacts on the environment. This project involves building a mathematical model to aid decision-makers in designing an optimal water distribution network. A new method for incorporating uncertainty in optimization that is based on Bayesian simulation of posterior predictive distributions is used to represent uncertainty in demands and costs. The output of the model is a most-probable least-cost modication to the existing water distribution infrastructure. Additionally, the model output includes the probability that a network component (new desalination plant, new pipe, new canal) is part of a least-cost installation.

Notorious for its high poverty levels and low socio-economic status, the Navajo Nation’s socio-economic well-being is hindered greatly in part by the lack of an adequate potable water infrastructure which has resulted in health disparities and has attributed to stunted economic growth within the Nation. Large candidate regional water transmission pipelines projects aimed to meet these needs have been identified. With capital costs exceeding their fiscal capability, decision-makers must choose projects that generate the most bang for the buck. To address these challenges, three (3) interconnected planning tools have been developed: (1) a water pipe installation construction cost estimation model (WaterCOSTE) to improve the accuracy of capital cost estimates; (2) a hydraulic optimization model (WaterTRANS) that improves design efficiency for branched water transmission systems; and (3) a decision support system (DSS) that allows candidate water transmission projects to be ranked while considering economic development, health improvement and environmental protection objectives. Estimates derived from WaterCOSTE are used as input into WaterTRANS to find least-cost system designs. The system costs along with other project data are then input into the DSS to determine project rankings. To demonstrate how the DSS can be used and applied, two candidate projects on the Navajo Nation are evaluated. The tools developed will enable decision-makers to improve planning processes and make wiser investment decisions that will lead to expanding the water infrastructure coverage and living conditions on the Navajo Nation.

Environmental concerns arising from the use of non-degradable plastics have resulted in search for suitable substitutes. The thesis deals with new nanostructured composites based on reinforcement of nanocellulose whiskers in "green" polymers such as xylan. Since the reinforcement filler and the matrix are both biobased and are thereby environmental friendly. Xylan incorporated with cellulose whiskers films provided with improved water and oxygen barrier properties. It appears that the high degree of crystallinity of cellulose whiskers, dense composite structure formed by the whiskers and rigidly hydrogen-bonded cellulose whiskers can cause cellulose whiskers to form integrated matrix which contribute to substantial benefit in the overall reduction of transmission rate. The spectral data obtained for the NCW/xylan nanocomposite films showed that the amount of xylan adsorbed to cellulose increases with the addition of NCW in the matrix. In addition, NMR T2 relaxation experiments studies were conducted to investigate the change in the nature of carbohydrate-water interactions as a result of NCW incorporation. These results facilitated an improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in the superior barrier and mechanical properties of xylan-whisker nanocomposite films. XRD studies show that when a xylan-whisker nanocomposite films is formed the mixing occurs on the atomic scale and NCW loading increases the matrix crystallinity.