Exploring surge protection strategies: System modification, operational considerations, surge protection devices, emergency control procedures and inter-systems protection

A wide range of transient design and surge protection strategies are available to water system owners and operators. Approaches include novel emergency control strategies to exploiting inter-systems connections as well as traditional protection devices and operational modifications. This paper use a cases study approach to review part of this range of protection approaches as well as to consider the overall surge protection strategy. The illustrative systems use the emergency controls and inter-system connections that have so often proved effective and economical in practice. The studies also show that improper design can be detrimental, and can degrade the transient response, leading naturally to the conclusion that transient protection systems must be comprehensively designed. Final choices must balance all the key risk and cost measures, an assessment approach that is perhaps still too rare in practice.