Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

5-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)

Department

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor

Alexander Domijan

Second Advisor

Nantakan Wongkasem

Third Advisor

Maysam Pournik

Abstract

Water treatment plants (WTPs) are vital infrastructure systems that depend on sensitive electrical, electronic, and control equipment to ensure the continuous supply of safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment. As global temperatures rise and climate change accelerates, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events—such as hurricanes, flooding, and increased lightning activity—are becoming more pronounced. These events pose significant risks to the electrical resilience of water treatment facilities, often leading to power outages, equipment failures, grid instability, and prolonged service disruptions. This report explores the impacts of extreme weather, with a particular focus on lightning and electrical surges, on water treatment plants. It evaluates a range of preventative, protective, and recovery strategies aimed at enhancing electrical resilience, with an emphasis on planning, preparation, lightning protection systems (LPS), grounding techniques, surge protection, and maintaining operational continuity. The study synthesizes insights from regulatory agencies, industry standards, and lightning physics research to propose a comprehensive, resilience-focused framework for modernizing and safeguarding water treatment infrastructure.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Genesis Martinez. All Rights Reserved. https://www.proquest.com/docview/3376719206/

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