Professor Vanessa Speight

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Professor of Integrated Water Systems

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v.speight@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0259

Full contact details

Professor Vanessa Speight
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Room E103b
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Prof Speight is an internationally recognised expert in drinking water quality with a focus on potable water distribution systems, applications of models and data analytics for decision support, public health risk, and regulatory/policy development. Her primary interests are understanding and modelling the reactions between hydraulics, microbiological constituents, and chemical contaminants within complex socio-technical urban water systems to design the innovative, sustainable water systems of the future.

Current research involves improving understanding about drinking water quality transformations from source to tap across raw water reactions, treatment processes, treated water storage, and water distribution, with a goal of integrating knowledge across these aspects that are rarely considered holistically. Vanessa’s approaches include laboratory experiments, field investigations, and data analytics to answer these important questions.

A new but rapidly expanding field of her research relates to intermittent water distribution systems, which are the dominant form of water supply for billions around the world, to better understand the impact of such operations on asset deterioration, water quality and public health. Ongoing research is investigating how network conditions and consumer usage jointly affect water supply and the impact of operations on water quality including biofilm growth, supported by laboratory and field work in Nepal.

Vanessa was Managing Director of TWENTY65, the EPSRC Grand Challenge Centre for Water working with 6 universities and 100+ industrial collaborative partners across the water cycle to develop flexible and synergistic solutions to meet future challenges for water. This research includes describing the drivers and technologies that might lead to a future with partially decentralised water systems, quantifying city-scale impacts of such transformations, greywater recycling, and water quality impacts of low water use devices.

Vanessa is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, a Professional Engineer (Maryland USA), and Deputy Editor for the journal AWWA Water Science. She has an extensive history of professional service including conference organisation and scientific committee work for associations including AWWA, ASCE, and IWA.

Qualifications
  • PhD, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
  • MS, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
  • BEng, McGill University
Publications

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Speight V, boxall JB, Husband PS, Cantor AF, Friedman M, Jacque A & Slabaugh R (2017) Fundamentals of internal corrosion and metal release In Giani R (Ed.), M58--internal Corrosion Control in Water Distribution Systems American Water Works Association RIS download Bibtex download
  • LeChevallier MW, Besner M-C, Friedman M & Speight V (2010) Microbiological quality control in distribution systems In Edzwald J (Ed.), Water Quality and Treatment, 6th Edition Denver, Colorado, USA: American Water Works Association. RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Perera IR, Boxall J, Speight V, Young S & Moore G (2024) Current Practices, Gaps and Opportunities in Data Utilization in Water Utility Industry. 15th International Conference on Hydroinformatics, 27 May 2024 - 30 May 2024. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kazemi E, Kyritsakas G, Husband S, Flavell K, Speight V & Boxall J (2023) Predicting iron exceedance risk in drinking water distribution systems using machine learning. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Vol. 1136 (pp 012047). Bucharest, Romania, 4 July 2022 - 4 July 2022. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kyritsakas G, Speight V & Boxall J (2023) A data-driven model for the prediction of chlorine losses in water distribution trunk mains. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Vol. 1136 (pp 012048). Bucharest, Romania, 4 July 2022 - 4 July 2022. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kyritsakas G, Speight V, Thom C & Boxall J (2019) A machine learning application on water quality datasets for understanding the factors of bacteriological failures on service reservoirs. Proceedings of the IWA-Aspire Conference. Hong Kong, 31 October 2019 - 2 November 2019. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Weston S & Speight V (2019) Impact of Hydraulic Conditions on Pressures in an Intermittent Water Supply System. Publishings of the 17th International Computing & Control for the Water Industry Conference, 1 September 2019 - 4 September 2019. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Doronina A, Husband P, Speight V & Boxall J (2019) The operational value of inlet monitoring at service reservoirs. Proceedings of the 17th International Computing and Control for the Water Industry Conference, 1 September 2019 - 4 September 2019. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kyritsakas G, Speight V, Thom C & Boxall J (2019) Investigating drinking water behaviour treated by different disinfection with the use of a machine learning technique on water quality datasets. datasets’ Proceedings of the 17th International Computing and Control for the Water Industry Conference, 1 September 2019 - 4 September 2019. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hook J, Speight V & Mayfield M (2018) Framework for city-scale simulation of sustainable water technologies. Proceedings of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hook J & Speight V (2018) Patterns in the deterioration of water quality in distribution networks with demand reduction technologies. 2018 WDSA / CCWI Joint Conference Proceedings. Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 23 July 2018 - 23 July 2018. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hashemi S, Filion YR & Speight VL (2017) Exploring how Pipe-level energy metrics relate to hydraulic parameters using multivariate analysis. CCWI 2017 - 15th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hashemi S, Filion YR & Speight VL (2017) An energy evaluation of common hydraulic thresholds in water mains. CCWI 2017 - 15th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry RIS download Bibtex download
  • irons L, Boxall JB, speight & Ganidi N (2016) Pressure from customer boundary box: new data to inform system management. 14th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, 7 November 2016 - 9 November 2016. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hashemi S, Filion YR & Speight VL (2015) Pipe-level Energy Metrics for Energy Assessment in Water Distribution Networks. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 119 (pp 139-147) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wong HG, Speight VL & Filion YR (2015) Impact of Urban form on Energy Use in Water Distribution Systems at the Neighbourhood Level. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 119 (pp 1049-1058) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Irons LM, Boxall J, Speight V, Holden B & Tam B (2015) Data driven analysis of customer flow meter data. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 119 (pp 834-843) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & Boxall J (2015) Current Perspectives on Disinfectant Modelling. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 119 (pp 434-441) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ellis K, Mounce SR, Edwards J, Speight V, Jakomis N & Boxall J (2015) Interpreting and estimating the risk of iron failures. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 119(1) (pp 299-308) View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mounce SR, Sharpe R, Speight V, Holden B & Boxall J (2015) Self-Organizing Maps For Knowledge Discovery From Corporate Databases To Develop Risk Based Prioritization For Stagnation . Proceedings of. New York City, USA, 17 August 2014 - 17 August 2014. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Prosser M, Speight V & Filion Y (2014) Sensitivity of Energy Use to Factors in Pipe Replacement Planning for a Large Water Distribution System. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 89 (pp 804-810) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Blokker M, Vreeburg J & Speight V (2014) Residual Chlorine in the Extremities of the Drinking Water Distribution System: The Influence of Stochastic Water Demands. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 70 (pp 172-180) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight VL (2014) Impact of Pipe Roughness on Pumping Energy in Complex Distribution Systems. Procedia Engineering, Vol. 70 (pp 1575-1581) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & Ellis K (2013) Evaluating water storage operation. 2013 Water Quality Technology Conference and Exposition, WQTC 2013 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Prosser M, Speight V & Filion Y (2012) Life cycle energy analysis for sustainable pipe replacement scheduling. 14th Water Distribution Systems Analysis Conference 2012, WDSA 2012, Vol. 2 (pp 1184-1195) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Betanzo E & Porro J (2011) Data integration to support hydraulic modeling at a large water utility. Urban Water Management: Challenges and Oppurtunities - 11th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, CCWI 2011, Vol. 1 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight VL (2010) Trade-offs between continuous and grab samples for water quality in distribution systems. Integrating Water Systems - Proceedings of the 10th International on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, CCWI 2009 (pp 447-451) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight VL (2009) Development of Model Calibration Guidance. Water Distribution Systems Analysis 2008 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Khanal N, Speight V, Radhakrishnan V, Francis T, Passantino L & Swanson J (2009) Integrated Planning for Dual Distribution Systems. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Smith RE, Smith, Jr. DL & Griffin JA (2009) Top-Down Construction of a Bridge in Clay Shale. Contemporary Topics in Ground Modification, Problem Soils, and Geo-Support RIS download Bibtex download
  • Porro JC, Carbonaro RF, Lindsay DR & Speight VL (2009) Modeling haloacetic acid formation/degradation in water distribution systems based upon a first-order deficit model regression technique. American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition 2009, ACE 2009 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V (2009) Trade-offs between continuous and grab samples for water quality in distribution systems. Water Quality Technology Conference and Exposition 2009 (pp 763-780) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Khanal N & Speight V (2008) Increasing Application of Water Quality Models. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight VL & Copeland, Jr. RLB (2008) Development of a Phased Water Master Plan using Optimization. Water Distribution Systems Analysis Symposium 2006 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grayman WM, Speight VL & Uber JG (2008) Using Monte-Carlo Simulation to Evaluate Alternative Water Quality Sampling Plans. Water Distribution Systems Analysis Symposium 2006 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Obolensky A, Speight V & Singer PC (2008) Short-term variations in DBP concentrations at the point of entry to the distribution system. Water Quality Technology Conference and Exposition 2008 (pp 3417-3431) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grayman WM, Speight VL & Uber JG (2007) Use of Distribution System Modeling in Designing Microbial Monitoring Programs. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2007 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kommineni S, Speight V, Mahmood F, Belhateche D, Yao T, Chaikitsakol J & Li J (2007) Proactive management of distribition ststem water qiality City of Houston's expesienpes. American Water Works Association - AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition, ACE 2007 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Khanal N, Webster J & Speight V (2007) Interpreting distribution system data using water quality models. American Water Works Association - Distribution Systems Symposium, DSS 2007 (pp 687-713) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V (2007) Perspectives on the total coliform rule revisions / distribution system rule. American Water Works Association - AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition, ACE 2007 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Leventry RB, Copeland RL, Speight VL & Fitzgerald SW (2005) Incorporating optimization into a phased water master plan. 2005 Distribution System Symposium Proceedings, DSS 2005 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight VL & DiGiano FA (2003) Water Quality Models for Analysis of Small System Operation: Case Study of Carthage, NC. World Water & Environmental Resources Congress 2003 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight VL & DiGiano FA (2003) Water Quality Models for Analysis of Small System Operation: Case Study of Carthage, NC. World Water and Environmental Resources Congress (pp 1719-1728) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Park J, Pick F, Fish K, Quinn D, Smith C, Speight V & Boxall J () Incorporation and Mobilisation of Health-Related Organisms from within Drinking Water Biofilm. The 3rd International Joint Conference on Water Distribution Systems Analysis & Computing and Control for the Water Industry (WDSA/CCWI 2024), Vol. 214 (pp 115-115) RIS download Bibtex download
  • MacRorie M, Weston S, Pudasaini K, Price R, Speight V & Collins R () Modelling Consumer Demand in Intermittent Water Supply (IWS) Networks: Evidence from Nepal. The 3rd International Joint Conference on Water Distribution Systems Analysis & Computing and Control for the Water Industry (WDSA/CCWI 2024), Vol. 51 (pp 38-38) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rogers J, Speight V, Fish K, Moore G & Boxall J () The Impacts of Chlorine and Chloramine on Biofilms and Discolouration in Operational Drinking Water Distribution Systems. The 3rd International Joint Conference on Water Distribution Systems Analysis & Computing and Control for the Water Industry (WDSA/CCWI 2024), Vol. 2 (pp 2-2) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rogers J, Fish K, Speight V, Fairley H, Knowles G & Boxall J () Disinfection Residual Behaviour within Drinking Water Distribution Systems. Proceedings - 2nd International Join Conference on Water Distribution System Analysis (WDSA)& Computing and Control in the Water Industry (CCWI), 18 July 2022 - 22 July 2022. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Doronina A, Husband S, Boxall J & Speight V () Discovering Differences in Iron and Manganese Behaviour in Service Reservoirs. Proceedings - 2nd International Join Conference on Water Distribution System Analysis (WDSA)& Computing and Control in the Water Industry (CCWI), 18 July 2022 - 22 July 2022. RIS download Bibtex download
  • MacRorie MH, Speight VL, Weston SL, Price R & Collins RP () A Model of Intermittent Water Supply Simulating the Inequitable Distribution of Water. Proceedings - 2nd International Join Conference on Water Distribution System Analysis (WDSA)& Computing and Control in the Water Industry (CCWI), 18 July 2022 - 22 July 2022. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Ellis KE & Biggs C () Cost of performing assessments under the Revised Total Coliform Rule: US and UK comparison. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 17 November 2014 - 20 November 2014. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sharp L, Speight V, Tait S, Ashley R, Westling E & Rychlewski M () Social science to support water sensitive cities. IWA World Congress. Lisbon, Portugal, 22 September 2014 - 26 September 2014. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Prosser M, Speight V & Filion Y () Life-cycle energy analysis to assess the energy use implications of pipe replacement schedules. IWA Asset Management for Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Systems Conference. Marbella, Spain, 24 April 2013 - 26 April 2013. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Douterelo I, Sharpe R, Fish K & Boxall JB () Impact of hydraulic events on organic and inorganic material in distribution systems. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Long Beach, California, USA, 4 November 2013 - 7 November 2013. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Routt J, Levine A, Besner M-C, Khanal N & Regli S () An exposure assessment methodology for water distribution storage facility contamination events. IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition. Montreal, Canada RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Rotert K, Anderson K, Regli S, Levine A, Besner M-C, Martel K, Letkiewicz F, Routt J, Friedman M & Khanal N () A framework for prioritizing information collection and research needs related to distribution system risk. Global Conference on Microbial Contaminants. Singapore RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V () Distribution system research needs: figuring out what we know and don’t know – then filling the gap. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Cincinnati, Ohio, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V () Revisions to the USEPA Total Coliform Rule: Focus on small systems. 13th Canadian National Conference on Drinking Water. Quebec City, Canada RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V () Proposed framework for responding to total coliform positives: implications for distribution system operations. AWWA Distribution System Symposium. Austin, Texas, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V () Distribution systems: the next frontier. Frontiers of Engineering: Reports on Leading Edge Engineering from the 2007 Symposium. Seattle, Washington, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grayman WM, Speight V & Khanal N () Applicability of security research and technology to the TCR. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V () Overview of model development, calibration and usage. International Conference on Computing and Control in the Water Industry (CCWI). Leicester, UK RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Uber JG & Grayman WM () Probabilistic modeling of DBPs in distribution systems. AWWA Distribution System Research Symposium. Reno, Nevada, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Li J & Kommineni S () Water quality modeling for the City of Houston. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Denver, Colorado, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V () Sampling plan design: implications for the Total Coliform Rule. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Denver, Colorado, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & Morrison S () Regional alternatives for water master planning. AWWA Ohio Section Conference. Cleveland, Ohio, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Leventry RB, Copeland RL & FitzGerald SW () Regional water supply planning in a rapidly growing suburban area. Joint Management Conference of the American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation. Atlanta, Georgia, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & DiGiano FA () An application of water quality modeling in a small system. AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition. Orlando, Florida, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & DiGiano FA () Where, when and how many? Water quality sampling in distribution systems. AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition. Orlando, Florida, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & DiGiano FA () Sampling network design for calibration of models of water quality in distribution systems. Fifth International Conference on Hydroinformatics. Cardiff, UK RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V & DiGiano FA () Water quality sampling strategies for distribution systems. Environmental and Water Resources Institute Congress, ASCE. Roanoke, Virginia, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Nuckols JR, Rossman L, Miles AM & Singer PC () Disinfection by-product exposure assessment using distribution system modeling. AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hashemi S, Filion YR & Speight V () CCWI2017: F2 'An Energy Evaluation of Common Hydraulic Thresholds in Water Mains' RIS download Bibtex download

Reports

  • Barr AD, Speight V, Collins R, Rigby S & Tyas A (2018) Cratering associated with failure of pressurised water mains RIS download Bibtex download
  • Barr AD, Speight V, Collins R, Rigby S & Tyas A (2018) Literature review: cratering associated with failure of pressurised water mains RIS download Bibtex download
  • Boxall J, Lamb N & Speight V (2017) Drinking Water Quality Big Question: How Can We Achieve 100% Compliance with Drinking Water Standards at Point of Use by 2050? RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Khanal N, Savic D, Kapelan Z, Jonkergouw P & Agbodo M (2010) Guidelines for Developing, Calibrating and Using Hydraulic Models RIS download Bibtex download
  • Speight V, Uber J, Grayman WM, Martel K, Friedman M, Singer PC & DiGiano FA (2009) Probabilistic Modeling Framework for Assessing Water Quality Sampling Programs RIS download Bibtex download
  • DiGiano FA, Speight V & Zhang W (2004) Disinfectant Decay and Corrosion: Laboratory and Field Studies RIS download Bibtex download

Other

Preprints

Research group

Water Distribution Systems & Infrastructure

Grants

Projects

View all research projects

TWENTY65

The EPSRC-funded Grand Challenge Centre for Water, comprising 6 UK universities and 100+ industrial partners working in collaboration to develop the sustainable water solutions of the future and to accelerate innovation uptake across the water sector.


Material Destiny

A collaborative project with 4 UK water companies to better understand the source, fate and transport of materials from source to tap in drinking water systems, with a particular focus on storage reservoirs.


ICASP Catchment Telemetry Integration

Working with the Living with Water Partnership in the Hull (UK) area, this project is evaluating data-driven approaches to extract value from a number of disparate monitoring systems with a goal of better understanding flooding dynamics and developing approaches for early flood warning.


Wat-Qual

The multidisciplinary Wat-Qual consortium (funded by EU Horizon 2020 Marie Curie RISE) includes participation from 10 countries spanning academic and industrial institutions to advance understanding and share knowledge about the impacts on drinking water quality in distribution systems from flushing, disinfection, and repairs.


Real Time Monitoring Technologies of Bacteria Downstream of Water Treatment Work

Funded jointly by UK Water Industry Research and TWENTY65, this project evaluates the potential applications for incorporating real-time microbiological monitoring into water distribution system management.


Characterizing the Effects of Supply Hours and Pressure of Intermittent Piped Water Supplies on Water Quality

More than one billion people regularly receive water through distribution systems that are operated intermittently, i.e. for fewer than 24 hours per day, with an estimated 17 million waterborne disease cases potentially associated with this practice worldwide each year.

This research is developing a fundamental understanding of the microbial ecology of intermittently operated water distribution systems to inform operational or construction risk reduction strategies. Funded by US NSF and EPSRC, this project is a collaboration between the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Sheffield.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health
  • Editorial Board Member, Public Health in Practice
  • Associate Editor, AWWA Water Science
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept of Civil Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Professional Engineer (VA and MD, USA)