The overall goal of this research is to develop an integrated system dynamics framework for sustainable management of municipal water and wastewater systems. Canadian municipalities have traditionally relied on grants received from senior levels of government to finance construction of water supply and wastewater collection infrastructure. User fees for water and wastewater services were determined so as to recover only the operating expenditures with no allowance to recoup the capital costs of infrastructure. As the infrastructure assets started approaching the end of their service life, investments needed to rehabilitate these assets were deferred in the expectation of receiving further grants for this purpose. Hence, a significant backlog of deteriorated infrastructure has accumulated over the years. Recently enacted regulations require that all expenditures incurred on provision of water and wastewater services should ultimately be financed from user fee based revenues. Another piece of legislation provides for establishment of service performance standards. Urban water and wastewater systems involve interconnections among physical infrastructure, financial, and socio-political factors. Several interacting feedback loops are formed due to these interconnections and render the management of water and wastewater infrastructure as a complex, dynamic problem. Existing asset management tools in the literature are found inadequate to capture the influence of feedback loops. A novel system dynamics approach is used to develop a demonstration model for water and wastewater network management. Model results for a case study show significance of feedback loops for financial sustainability of the system. For example, user fees have to be substantially increased to achieve financial sustainability, especially when price elasticity of water demand is considered. A detailed causal loop diagram for management of wastewater collection networks is presented. The causal loop diagram lays out qualitative causal relationships among system components and identifies multiple interacting feedback loops. Based on this causal loop diagram, a system dynamics model comprised of a wastewater pipes sector, a finance sector, and a consumers sector, is developed. Policy levers are included in the model to facilitate formulation of different financing and rehabilitation strategies for the wastewater collection network. Financial and service performance indicators included in the model allow comparison of different financing and rehabilitation strategies. Data requirements for implementation of the model are discussed. The wastewater collection network model is implemented for a case study of a medium-sized Canadian municipality with a substantial backlog of deteriorated pipes. A methodology for parameterization of the model using existing data sources is presented. Simulation results indicate that different financing strategies ranging from no borrowing to full utilization of debt capacity can achieve similar total life-cycle costs but with significantly varying impacts for consumers in terms of service performance and financial burden. A detailed causal loop diagram for management of a watermain distribution network is employed to identify feedback loops. The causal loop diagram is then developed into a system dynamics model comprised of watermain pipes, financial, and consumer sectors. Data requirements for implementation of the model are discussed.

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the validity of statistical modelling, with regards to flow in wastewater systems based on precipitation. A wastewater system, which is a system of pump-stations connected via pipes, is affected by precipitation as rainwater enters the system. The rainwater that enters the system can sometimes, especially if the precipitation is heavy, increase the flow by several hundred percent. The goal with the models created for this report was, to first predict how much rainwater there was in the wastewater system based on precipitation, and second, to examine where in a geographical grid this rainwater entered the system. For the first goal a linear regression model was applied, this model showed that it was indeed possible to predict excess water in the system, but large errors for individual time points where to be expected, especially for light precipitation. For the second goal a random forest model was applied. This model however gave no additional insight beyond what an initial correlation study between precipitation in different parts of the geographical grid and flow had already shown. The areas in the geographical grid pointed out by both the random forest model and the initial correlation study were not the actual uptake areas of the pump-station these models were applied to. This leads to the conclusion that for the data set used, and with the models applied in the manner in which they were in this thesis, it was not possible to predict where rainwater enters the system. / Målet med den här rapporten var att undersöka möjligheten att modellera regnvattens påverkan på vattenflödet i avloppsystem, med statistiska modeller. Ett avloppsystem är i dess enklaste form ett nätverk av pumpstationer sammanbunda med rör. Det här systemen påverkas av nederbörd då oönskat regnvatten kommer in via stuprör, avloppsbrunnar och sprickor i rören. Regnvattnet kan i vissa fall, särskilt under perioder med mycket nederbörd, öka flödet i avloppsystemet med flera hundra procent. Modellerna tillverkade för den här rapporten undersökte två olika aspekter av regnvattnets påverkan: Kan flöde i avloppssystemet modelleras med regnvatten? Och kan modellerna avgöra var regnvatten kommer in i avloppsystemet? Den första frågan undersöktes med linjär regressionsanalys, modellerna tillverkade med regression visade att det gick att modellera flöde i avloppsystemet med regnvatten, det bör dock nämnas att stora fel i enskilda tidssteg var att förvänta, speciellt för modellering då nederbörden är låg. Den andra frågan utvärderades med en ”random forest” modell. Den här modellen gav ingen ytterligare information angående var regnvatten kommer in i systemet, utöver vad som redan hade visats av en korrelationsstudie gjord i början av projektet. Både korrelationsstudien och ”random forest” modellen visade också på att regnvattnet kom från platser som inte var sammankopplade med den pumpstation testerna gjordes på. På grund av detta drogs slutsatsen att det inte gick att ta reda på var regnvattnet kommer in i systemet, med den data som använts, och på det sätt som modellerna har använts i den här rapporten.

För att nå en hållbar stadsutveckling behöver nya tekniker och lösningar inte bara testas, de måste också spridas och skalas upp. Den här uppsatsen undersöker uppskalningen av det källsorterande avloppssystemet i stadsdelen Oceanhamnen till Östra Ramlösa, båda i Helsingborg. Huvudaktörerna i uppskalningsprocessen är Helsingborgs stad och NSVA (Nordvästra Skånes Vatten och Avlopp). Utifrån teorier om uppskalning och offentlig organisation undersöker uppsatsen vilka utmaningar som uppstår samt vilka hinder och framgångsfaktorer som går att identifiera i uppskalningsprocessen. Syftet är att bidra till en bättre förståelse för, och ny kunskap om, processen när offentlig sektor skalar upp socio-tekniska infrastrukturlösningar. Uppsatsen utgår från en kvalitativ forskningsmetod, och är gjord som en fallstudie, baserad på intervjuer med nyckelpersoner samt analys av dokument och webbsidor. Att skala upp lösningar och samtidigt behålla kontakten med den fortsatta utvecklingen och utvärderingen av ursprungslösningen framstår i det här fallet som den största utmaningen.  De tydligaste hindren är brist på fungerande rutiner för dokumentation och kunskapsöverföring, brist på gemensam vision i de två organisationerna samt brist på kommunikation inom och mellan alla nivåer. Bland framgångsfaktorerna finns den starka innovationsidentiteten i Helsingborgs stad, eldsjälar med starkt driv och hög yrkeskompetens samt tongivande visionärer i uppstarten av projektet. Osäkerhet kring miljötillstånd, långa handläggningstider, politiskt styre och krav på upphandling utgör mindre hinder än förväntat.  Alla identifierade hinder och svårigheter förstärks med två organisationer som huvudaktörer. En roll som har mandat över hela uppskalningsprocessen, oavsett organisation, skulle därför vara till nytta för arbetet. Det skulle öka möjligheten att ha tydliga strukturer, processer och kommunikation kring uppskalning. / To achieve sustainable urban development, new technologies and solutions must not only be tested, they also need to be disseminated and scaled up. This paper examines the scaling up of the source-separated sewage system from the Oceanhamnen district to Östra Ramlösa, both in Helsingborg. The main actors in the scaling process are the City of Helsingborg and NSVA (the municipal water and wastewater company). Drawing on theories of upscaling and public organisation, the paper explores the challenges that arise, as well as the obstacles and success factors identifiable in the scaling process. The aim is to contribute to a better understanding of, and new knowledge about, the process when the public sector scales up socio-technical infrastructure solutions. The paper is based on a qualitative research method and conducted as a case study, involving interviews with key personnel and analysis of documents and websites. Scaling solutions while maintaining engagement with the ongoing development and evaluation of the original solution presents the greatest challenge in this case.  The most significant barriers include a lack of effective routines for documentation and knowledge transfer, a lack of a shared vision within the two organisations, and inadequate communication within and between all levels. Among the success factors are the strong innovation identity of the City of Helsingborg, dedicated individuals with strong drive and high professional competence, and leading visionaries at the start of the project. Uncertainty around environmental permits, long processing times, political governance, and procurement requirements pose less of a hindrance than expected. All identified barriers and difficulties are amplified with two organisations as the main actors. A role with a mandate over the entire scaling process, regardless of organisation, would therefore be beneficial to the work. It would increase the opportunity to have clear structures, processes, and communication around scaling.

The main objective pursued in this thesis targets the development and systematization of a methodology that allows addressing management problems in the dynamic operation of Urban Wastewater Systems. The proposed methodology will suggest operational strategies that can improve the overall performance of the system under certain problematic situations through a model-based approach. The proposed methodology has three main steps: The first step includes the characterization and modeling of the case-study, the definition of scenarios, the evaluation criteria and the operational settings that can be manipulated to improve the system’s performance. In the second step, Monte Carlo simulations are launched to evaluate how the system performs for a wide range of operational settings combinations, and a global sensitivity analysis is conducted to rank the most influential operational settings. Finally, the third step consists on a screening methodology applying a multi-criteria analysis to select the best combinations of operational settings. / El principal objectiu d’aquesta tesi és desenvolupar una metodologia que permeti abordar els problemes de gestió del cicle industrial de l’aigua. La metodologia proposada suggereix estratègies de gestió que poden millorar el rendiment general del sistema en determinades situacions problemàtiques. La metodologia proposada es basa en un model matemàtic de simulació d’aquestes infraestructures i consta de tres passos. El primer pas inclou la caracterització i modelització del cas d’estudi, la definició d’escenaris, criteris d’avaluació i paràmetres d’operació del sistema. En el segon pas, es llancen simulacions Monte Carlo (MC) amb l’objectiu d’avaluar com es comporta el sistema segons diferents estratègies d’operació. Per tal d’identificar els paràmetres d’operació més influents es du a terme una anàlisi global de sensibilitat. Finalment, el tercer pas consisteix en una metodologia d’avaluació basada en solucions Pareto i un anàlisi multicriteri per tal de seleccionar les millors estratègies d’operació.

In the last decades and due to the Water Framework Directive implementation, the urban wastewater cycle management has become more complex. The concept of integrated urban wastewater system management is introduced, and it becomes necessary to consider some new data as the sewer system characteristics or the receiving body. In this sense, environmental decision support systems (EDSS) are very useful and powerful tools to support during the decision making process. A new EDSS for the integrated urban wastewater system management has been developed integrating data from several sources (bibliographic, theoretical or historical) and a real case-based virtual system able to perform simulations. Results demonstrate the benefits of using this kind of systems in comparison with a standard approach, which do not use the expert knowledge and encourages continuing with this research in order to improve the quality and efficiency of this type of EDSSs / En les darreres dècades, i degut a la implementació de la Directiva Marc de l’Aigua, la gestió del cicle urbà de l’aigua ha esdevingut més complexa. S’introdueix el concepte de gestió integrada de conca, i és necessari considerar certa informació, com les característiques de la xarxa de clavegueram o del medi receptor. D’aquesta manera, els sistemes de suport a la decisió ambiental (EDSS) són eines potentíssimes que faciliten la presa de decisions en aquest camp. S’ha desenvolupat un nou EDSS per a la gestió integrada de conca que utilitza una base sòlida de coneixement expert, integrant informació de diverses fonts (bibliogràfiques, teòriques o històriques) i dos sistemes virtuals basats en dades reals sobre els quals és possible realitzar simulacions. Els resultats demostren que aquest sistema presenta beneficis importants respecte a una gestió estàndard sense sistema expert, i esperona a prosseguir amb la recerca i el desenvolupament per a millorar-lo