The water quality in the distribution network is not constant but
changes as it travels through the mains. Research on water deterioration in the network is mainly done by setting up special measuring
programs. Before starting such a complicated and expensive measuring program, existing data can be analyzed. The water company of
Amsterdam, Waternet, samples both the treated water and the water
in the distribution network on a regular basis. This paper presents a
study of the data of this measuring program from 1990
until 2004. Temperature, oxygen, dissolved organic carbon (DOC),
and zooplankton turn out to be correlated. At higher temperatures,
more zooplankton grows, while both DOC and oxygen concentration
decrease. Additionally, a clear correlation exists between turbidity
and iron measured in water sampled from cast iron mains. Although
analyzing the data gives a good overview of the water quality, it is not
sufficient to assess water-quality changes in the distribution network. Includes 3 references, table, figures.