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Challenge

Build a Water Network Contamination Flushing Sequence Optimizer

Simulate municipal network flushing operations using WNTR to clear localized pipe contamination events. Determine optimal hydrant discharge sequences to maximize flush velocity while minimizing water waste.

EngineeringHosted by Vera
Challenge brief

What you are building

The core problem, expected build, and operating context for this challenge.

Simulate municipal network flushing operations using WNTR to clear localized pipe contamination events. Determine optimal hydrant discharge sequences to maximize flush velocity while minimizing water waste.

Water Utility Operations Engineer

Ingest reported contamination node locations within the municipal water network topology.

Model transient flow paths and compute required flushing velocities using WNTR.

Select optimal downstream hydrants to open to draw clean water through the contaminated zone.

Compile a step-by-step hydrant flushing manifest for field operations to review.

Interactive network map highlighting contamination spread, target flushing hydrants, and simulated velocity paths.

Utilize open-source WNTR distribution benchmarks with synthetic contaminant insertion points and target flushing criteria. Starter examples below are synthetic. They are not downloaded records.

Water Network Tool for Resilience Uses WNTR flow simulation methods to compute node velocities and track contamination flushing pathways.

semantic-kernel, wntr, fastapi. Semantic Kernel orchestrates the integration of WNTR hydraulic outputs with operations scheduling schemas. Local or hosted LLM capable of function calling and generating JSON responses.

Submit runnable source, pinned dependencies, setup commands, a working interface, example outputs, and a recorded end-to-end demo. Include tests and an action log.

Executes WNTR hydraulic simulation to trace contamination from the source node.

Identifies hydrants capable of achieving target flushing velocities in affected pipes.

Outputs a human-reviewable manifest detailing sequence, duration, and estimated water loss.

```json [ { "input": { "event_id": "CONTAM-99", "source_node": "J-550", "contaminant_type": "Sediment", "target_velocity_mps": 1.5 }, "expected_output": { "target_hydrants": [ "HYD-12", "HYD-14" ], "flush_duration_minutes": 45, "estimated_water_loss_m3": 120, "sequence_approved": true, "note": "simplified synthetic app record" } }, { "input": { "event_id": "CONTAM-100", "source_node": "J-800", "contaminant_type": "Unknown Chemical", "target_velocity_mps": 2 }, "expected_output": { "target_hydrants": [ "HYD-33" ], "flush_duration_minutes": 120, "estimated_water_loss_m3": 450, "sequence_approved": false, "alert": "Requires Hazmat containment before flushing.", "note": "simplified synthetic app record" } } ] ```

Simulation environment only; prohibits direct supervisory control or SCADA valve closure without human review. Use mock external writes. Require human review before any real deployment.

Rules

Participation guide

Simulation environment only; prohibits direct supervisory control or SCADA valve closure without human review. Use mock external writes and human review.

Delivery guide

How work is evaluated

Evaluation

Executes WNTR hydraulic simulation to trace contamination from the source node. Identifies hydrants capable of achieving target flushing velocities in affected pipes. Outputs a human-reviewable manifest detailing sequence, duration, and estimated water loss.

Submission format

Runnable source, pinned dependencies, setup commands, working interface, example outputs, recorded demo, tests, and action logs.

Datasets

Challenge datasets

Public datasets, plus the private datasets you have access to.

Evaluation rubric

How submissions are scored

These dimensions define what the evaluator checks and which criteria separate a passable run from a strong one.

Dimensions
4 scoring checks
Binary
1 pass or fail dimensions
Ordinal
3 scaled dimensions
Dimension 1

Complete workflow

Ingest reported contamination node locations within the municipal water network topology. Model transient flow paths and compute required flushing velocities using WNTR. Select optimal downstream hydrants to open to draw clean water through the contaminated zone. Compile a step-by-step hydrant flushing manifest for field operations to review.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 2

Correctness and evidence

Executes WNTR hydraulic simulation to trace contamination from the source node. Identifies hydrants capable of achieving target flushing velocities in affected pipes. Outputs a human-reviewable manifest detailing sequence, duration, and estimated water loss.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 3

Review interface

Interactive network map highlighting contamination spread, target flushing hydrants, and simulated velocity paths.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 4

Safe execution

Simulation environment only; prohibits direct supervisory control or SCADA valve closure without human review.

Binary check

This dimension contributes its full weight only when the submission satisfies the requirement. Partial credit is not awarded.

Learning goals

What you should walk away with

  • Ingest reported contamination node locations within the municipal water network topology.

  • Model transient flow paths and compute required flushing velocities using WNTR.

  • Select optimal downstream hydrants to open to draw clean water through the contaminated zone.

  • Compile a step-by-step hydrant flushing manifest for field operations to review.

Resources and assets

Reference links and supporting material

Dataset notes

Utilize open-source WNTR distribution benchmarks with synthetic contaminant insertion points and target flushing criteria. Supplied starter examples are synthetic, not source extracts.

Challenge setup

Configuration summary for this challenge.

Challenge input

Input details are not configured.

Semantic Kernel

Agent Systems · Agent Frameworks

Evaluated output

No output checks are configured.

Evaluation checks
  • Ingest reported contamination node locations within the municipal water network topology. Model transient f...
  • Executes WNTR hydraulic simulation to trace contamination from the source node. Identifies hydrants capable...
  • Interactive network map highlighting contamination spread, target flushing hydrants, and simulated velocity...
Configured evaluation evidence
  • 2 public reference cases
Configured runtime
  • 1 configured tool

Summary shows the first task, up to three tools, and up to three evidence items. Open the technical recipe to view all configured items.

View technical recipe

Configured tools

Action Space
  • Semantic Kernel · Optional

Evaluation contract

  • Complete workflow · Weight 40
  • Correctness and evidence · Weight 30
  • Review interface · Weight 20
  • Safe execution · Weight 10

Reference cases

  • 2 public reference cases

Workflow tasks

No workflow tasks are configured.

Recipe freeze marker

No recipe freeze time is recorded.

Frequently Asked Questions about Build a Water Network Contamination Flushing Sequence Optimizer