Patent ID: 8531303

Claim:
A method of monitoring the quality of the water of a drinking water distribution network including consumption meters and in-line analyzers at surveillance points of the network for measuring at least one quality parameter of the water, in which method: measurements from the analyzers ( 10 a , 10 b , etc.) are sent to a calculation unit (A), the calculation unit (A) establishes estimated values of the level in the water of the parameter concerned at the various surveillance points in the network, measured values of the quality parameter at the various points of the network are sent to a pre-alarm system (W), and the pre-alarm system (W) compares the estimated values of the quality parameter and the values measured at various points of the network, an alarm being tripped if the difference between a measured value and an estimated value exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein, for monitoring in real time: end user meters ( 9 a , 9 b , etc.) equipped with remote meter reading devices are installed on branch connections to end user consumers, consumption data from the various end user meters ( 9 a , 9 b , etc.) is sent to the calculation unit (A), the calculation unit (A) is programmed with a hydraulic model and a kinetic model of the decrease of the quality parameter concerned, using the hydraulic and the kinetic models, the calculation unit (A) evaluates the level of the quality parameter concerned in the water, and the calculation unit (A) continuously updates the hydraulic model according to consumption data received from the end user meters ( 9 a , 9 b , etc.), wherein reverse flow information from the end user meters ( 9 a , 9 b , etc.) is sent to he pre-alarm system (W) and grouped information on reverse flow and quality parameter levels are combined to increase the probability of detecting an intrusion into the network.