Selecting a source for urban water supply Which of the following factors must be evaluated while selecting a city’s water source and its conveyance route?

Introduction / Context:
Source selection drives capital and operating costs for decades. The hydrology, topography, and raw-water characteristics govern treatment needs, pumping energy, and resilience.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• City-scale potable supply.
• Multiple potential sources (river, lake, groundwater, regional scheme).

Concept / Approach:
Quantity determines reliability during drought; quality dictates treatment train and operating cost; elevation affects gravity advantage versus pumping; terrain affects alignment feasibility, tunneling, and environmental impacts.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Assess safe yield and seasonal variability (quantity).Analyze raw-water contaminants and treatability (quality).Compare available hydraulic head for gravity conveyance (elevation).Survey terrain for constructability, risk, and maintenance access (route).

Verification / Alternative check:
Feasibility studies explicitly balance these criteria in multi-objective analysis.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Any single factor alone is insufficient; a complete evaluation requires all listed factors.

Common Pitfalls:
Underestimating quality variability (algal blooms, turbidity spikes); neglecting headloss and future expansion corridors.

Final Answer:
All the above