Encouraging Effective Air Management in Water Pipelines: A Critical Review

Air can be entrapped in water and wastewater systems under a variety of conditions, and if such air is not managed properly, it can impose considerable operational penalties. To avoid these problems and the dangers associated with air pockets, several air management strategies have been routinely suggested. However, the devastating consequences of air pockets frequently documented in the literature imply the need for further development in this area. Improving air management obviously requires a thorough understanding of the current strategies and their shortcomings. This paper overviews the sources of air in pipes and key consequences associated with its presence. Current measures for managing air in water pipes are reviewed and critiqued. Finally, knowledge gaps that limit the efficient application of current air management strategies to real world problems are identified, and suggestions for future development are presented.