The influence of district heating on the temperature in service lines: field measurements

“Drinking water temperatures are expected to increase in the Netherlands due to climate change and the installation of district heating networks as part of the energy transition. This in turn may lead to increased microbiological activity.
Service lines in particular might be vulnerable since these contain small volumes of water that is frequently stagnant. Dutch drinking water utilities are interested in a dedicated method for field measurements suitable to elucidate potential thermal influences on service lines. This contribution presents a method developed for that purpose. The first measurements at several household locations – with and without district heating connections nearby – demonstrate a measurable thermal influence of the district heating connections on the drinking water in the service lines.”

(Citation: Laarhoven, K.A. van, Dash, A., Schaap, P. – The influence of district heating on the temperature in service lines: field measurements – CCWI 2025 – 21st Computing & Control for the Water Industry Conference, Sheffield, UK, 1-3 September – https://doi.org/10.15131/shef.data.29921216)