Dr Stewart Husband

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Research Fellow of Drinking Water Quality

Headshot of Stewart Husband
Profile picture of Headshot of Stewart Husband
s.husband@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 7901 109027
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)

Full contact details

Dr Stewart Husband
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

My research investigates how drinking water quality changes during transport through massive distribution pipe networks and how we can best manage this complex ecosystem. 

Dr Stewart Husband

Stewart holds a masters in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering from the University of Surrey and a post-graduate teaching degree from the University of Bristol. After teaching secondary science, he joined the University of Sheffield researching the impacts of distribution systems on drinking water quality where he completed his Ph.D. He continues to develop the internationally verified concept of cohesive material layers and highlighting biofilms as a key processes. He has undertaken thousands of trials in live networks, developed monitoring equipment, constructed full scale laboratory pipe systems, hosts and supports companies worldwide delivering operational benefits that has resulted in multi-million savings and improved delivered water quality.

Research interests

Drinking water distribution systems provide an essential service, yet these large and complex engineering infrastructures that typically remain hidden and buried underground, are also living ecosystems hosting continual physico-chemical and biological interactions.

Although normally an operating equilibrium is established, any network change, planned or otherwise, can create either widespread or localised issues such as discolouration.

To effectively manage these systems therefore, we need to understand the behaviour and how our actions impact the microbial communities and release of material that accumulates across all surfaces.

This can be achieved by detailed study and monitoring, and with many years researching distribution systems, constructing world leading laboratory facilities and 1000’s of field trials across the UK and internationally, we have fully validated the concepts now known in the industry as PODDS.

By applying this developed understanding and modelling skills, operational practices in partner water companies has been transformed, leading to improved resilience, service and water quality plus resource efficiencies and multi-million savings.

Critically as living systems, research is now focussing on conserving this vital resource, the impact of climate changes and the health implications to all of us as consumers.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Gleeson K, Husband S & Boxall J (2025) . AQUA — Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society.
  • Kennedy (Doronina) A, Husband S, Boxall J & Speight V (2024) . AQUA — Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society, 73(5), 999-1012.
  • Gleeson K, Husband S, Gaffney J & Boxall J (2024) . Journal of Hydroinformatics, 26(1), 143-161.
  • Boxall J, Blokker M, Schaap P, Speight V & Husband S (2023) . Water Research, 243.
  • Sunny I, Husband S & Boxall J (2023) . Water Research, 242.
  • Gleeson K, Husband S, Gaffney J & Boxall J (2023) . Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua, 72(3), 329-347.
  • Husband S, Boxall J & Sunny I (2023) . Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 9(3), 756-771.
  • Doronina A, Husband P, Boxall J & Speight V (2023) Influence of service reservoir construction age on the likelihood of bacteriological failure occurrence. Institute of Water Journal(8), 22-25.
  • Boxall J, Speight V, Kyritsakas G, Kazemi E, Husband S, Bright S, Ledgar S, Montgomery L & Flavell K (2022) The application of artificial intelligence techniques to better manage iron in drinking water distribution systems. Institute of Water Journal(7), 28-34.
  • Pick FC, Fish KE, Husband S & Boxall JB (2021) . Frontiers in Microbiology, 12.
  • Calero Preciado C, Husband S, Boxall J, del Olmo G, Soria-Carrasco V, Maeng SK & Douterelo I (2021) . Water Research, 201.
  • Douterelo I, Dutilh BE, Calero C, Rosales E, Martin K & Husband S (2020) . Water Research, 187.
  • Fish KE, Reeves-McLaren N, Husband S & Boxall J (2020) . npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 6.
  • Del Olmo G, Husband S, Sánchez Briones C, Soriano A, Calero Preciado C, Macian J & Douterelo I (2020) . Science of The Total Environment, 754.
  • Doronina A, Husband P, Boxall J & Speight V (2020) . Urban Water Journal, 17(8), 735-744.
  • Al-Saffar M & Husband S (2020) . Urban Water Journal, 17(8), 696-703.
  • Carpitella S, Del Olmo G, Izquierdo J, Husband S, Boxall J & Douterelo I (2020) . Water, 12(5).
  • Douterelo I, Dutilh BE, Arkhipova K, Calero C & Husband S (2020) . Water Research, 173.
  • Sunny I, Husband PS & Boxall JB (2020) . Water Research, 169, ---.
  • Furnass WR, Mounce SR, Husband S, Collins RP & Boxall JB (2019) . Smart Water, 4.
  • Douterelo I, Sharpe RL, Husband S, Fish KE & Boxall JB (2019) . Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, 6(1).
  • Sunny I, Husband S, Drake N & Boxall JB (2017) . Drinking Water Engineering and Science, 10, 45-52.
  • Husband S & Boxall J (2016) . Water Research, 107, 127-140.
  • Husband S, Fish KE, Douterelo I & Boxall J (2016) . Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 16(4), 942-950.
  • Douterelo I, Husband S, Loza V & Boxall J (2016) . Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82(14), 4155-4168.
  • Mounce SR, Blokker EJM, Husband PS, Furnass W, Schaap PG & boxall JB (2016) . Journal of Hydroinformatics, 1(18), 96-114.
  • Cook DM, Husband PS & Boxall JB (2015) . Urban Water Journal.
  • Husband S & Boxall J (2015) . Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology - Aqua, 64(5), 529-542.
  • Douterelo I, Husband S & Boxall JB (2014) . Water Research, 54C, 100-114.
  • Furnass WR, Collins RP, Husband PS, Sharpe RL, Mounce SR & Boxall JB (2012) Modelling both the continual erosion and regeneration of discolouration material in drinking water distribution systems. New Developments in IT & Water.
  • Husband PS, Whitehead J & Boxall JB (2010) . Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Water Management, 163(8), 397-406.
  • Husband PS & Boxall JB (2010) Asset deterioration and discolouration in water distribution systems. Water Research.
  • Deines P, Sekar R, Husband PS, Boxall JB, Osborn AM & Biggs CA (2010) A new coupon design for simultaneous analysis of in situ microbial biofilm formation and community structure in drinking water distribution systems. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1-8.
  • Husband PS & Boxall JB (2010) Field Studies of Discolouration in Water Distribution Systems: Model Verification and Practical Implications. ASCE Journal Water Resources Planning and Management, 136, 86-94.
  • Husband PS, Boxall JB & Saul AJ (2008) . WATER RESEARCH, 42(16), 4309-4318.

Book 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

Conference proceedings

  • Gleeson K, Husband S, Gaffney J & Boxall J (2025)
  • Kyritsakas G, Husband S, Gleeson K, Flavell K & Boxall J (2024) . Engineering proceedings, Vol. 69(1). Ferrara, Italy, 1 July 2024 - 1 July 2024.
  • Lokk R, Boxall J & Husband S (2024) . Engineering Proceedings, Vol. 69(1). Ferrara, Italy, 1 July 2024 - 1 July 2024.
  • Husband S, Walkington-Mayo N & Boxall J (2024) . Engineering Proceedings, Vol. 69(1). Ferrara, Italy, 1 July 2024 - 1 July 2024.
  • Gleeson K, Husband S, Gaffney J, O’Shea S, Lopes AC & Boxall J (2024) . 15th International Conference on Hydroinformatics (pp 567-569), 27 May 2024 - 30 May 2024.
  • Kazemi E, Kyritsakas G, Husband S, Flavell K, Speight V & Boxall J (2023) . IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Vol. 1136 (pp 012047). Bucharest, Romania, 4 July 2022 - 4 July 2022.
  • Gleeson K, Husband S, Gaffney J & Boxall J (2023) . IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Vol. 1136 (pp 012046). Bucharest, Romania, 4 July 2022 - 4 July 2022.
  • Pick F, Fish K, Husband S & Boxall J (2020)
  • 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.
  • Husband P, Boxall J & Al-Saffar MSA (2019) Discolouration modelling. Proceedings of the 17th International Computing and Control for the Water Industry Conference, 1 September 2019 - 4 September 2019.
  • Kazemi E, Mounce SR, Husband PS & Boxall JB (2018) . HIC 2018. 13th International Conference on Hydroinformatics, Vol. 3 (pp 1030-1039). Palermo, Italy, 1 July 2018 - 1 July 2018.
  • Al-Saffar M & Husband S (2018) Optimising flow conditioning in operational trunk mains for discolouration risk reduction and maintaining network resilience. 1st International Wdsa Ccwi 2018 Joint Conference
  • Husband S & Boxall J (2018) Understanding material accumulation and discolouration risk in distribution networks. 1st International Wdsa Ccwi 2018 Joint Conference
  • Fish KE, Husband SP & Boxall JB (2018) The impact of chlorine concentration on the discolouration response of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems. 1st International Wdsa Ccwi 2018 Joint Conference
  • Douterelo I, Calero C & Husband S (2018) Monitoring biofilm communities in operational drinking water distribution systems and the impact on water quality. 1st International Wdsa Ccwi 2018 Joint Conference
  • Sunny I, Husband S & Boxall J (2018) Seasonal temperature and turbiditybehaviour in trunkmains. 1st International Wdsa Ccwi 2018 Joint Conference
  • Cook D & Husband S (2017) Rusby wood a smart network for sustainable discolouration risk reduction. Ccwi 2017 15th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry
  • Sunny I, Husband S, Moore G, Drake N, McKenzie K & Boxall J (2017) Discolouration risk management and chlorine wall decay. Ccwi 2017 15th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry
  • Husband S, Jackson M & Boxall J (2015) . Procedia Engineering, Vol. 119 (pp 398-406)
  • Mounce SR, Husband SP, Furnass WR & Boxall JB (2014) . Procedia Engineering, Vol. 89 (pp 173-180)
  • Husband PS, Mistry J & Boxall JB (2014) . Procedia Engineering, Vol. 70. Perugia, Italy, 2 September 2017 - 2 September 2017.
  • Husband S, Xin Y & Boxall JB (2012) . World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012 (pp 3161-3170)
  • Husband S & Boxall JB (2012) . World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012 (pp 3178-3185)
  • Husband S, Jackson M & Boxall JB (2011) Trunk main discolouration trials and strategic planning. Urban Water Management Challenges and Oppurtunities 11th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry Ccwi 2011, Vol. 2
  • Seth AD, Husband PS & Boxall JB (2010) Rivelin trunk main flow test. INTEGRATING WATER SYSTEMS (pp 431-434)
  • Husband S, Williams R & Boxall JB (2010) . 11th Annual International Symposium on Water Distribution Systems Analysis. Arizona, USA
  • Husband PS & Boxall JB (2008) . World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008 Ahupua A Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008, Vol. 316
  • Boxall JB, Unwin DM, Husband PS, Saul AJ, Dewis N & Gunstead JD (2003) Water quality in distribution systems: rehabilitation and maintenance strategies. ADVANCES IN WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT (pp 397-404)
  • Lokk R, Blokker M, Boxall J, Romano M, Provost A & Husband S () . 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.
  • Doronina A, Husband S, Boxall J & Speight V () . 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.
  • Fish K, Douterelo , husband & Boxall JB () The impact of hydraulic conditions upon drinking water distribution system biofilms. biofilms’ IWA Specialist Conference Biofilms in Drinking Water systems from treatment to tap. Arosa, Switzerland, 23 August 2015 - 26 August 2015.
  • husband , douterelo , fish & Boxall JB () Biofilms and Discolouration Material Accumulation Processes in Drinking Water Distribution Systems and Modelling the Hydraulic. IWA Specialist Conference Biofilms in Drinking Water systems from treatment to tap. Arosa, Switzerland, 23 August 2015 - 26 August 2015.
  • Sunny IZ, Husband S, Moore G, Drake N, Mckenzie K & Boxall J ()
Grants

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