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Condition Assessment of Drinking Water Transmission and Distribution Systems
Citation:
ROYER, M. D. Condition Assessment of Drinking Water Transmission and Distribution Systems. Presented at U.S. EPA SCIENCE FORUM 2008, WASHINGTON, DC, May 20 - 22, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
to present information
Description:
Condition assessment of water transmission and distribution mains is the collection of data and information through direct and/or indirect methods, followed by analysis of the data and information, to make a determination of the current and/or future structural, water quality, and hydraulic status of the pipeline. Where it is applicable and cost-effective, condition assessment is a vital component in effective water infrastructure asset management. A good understanding of pipeline condition can help a utility to optimize operations, maintenance, and capital improvement decisions. This helps to reduce structural, water quality, and hydraulic failures and their adverse effects, and to minimize life-cycle costs. However, condition assessment may also be technically and/or economically infeasible in many cases, and it may be preferable to perform reactive or scheduled maintenance, rather than condition-based maintenance. Therefore, the ability to rapidly, thoroughly, and objectively assess and rank condition assessment versus alternative approaches for a range of pipe materials and failure mechanisms is also very important for its efficient development and use. This paper will emphasize structural condition assessment of water mains, as opposed to hydraulic or water quality condition assessment. This paper will describe water main condition assessment research needs, opportunities presented by innovative science and technology to address those needs, and critical ongoing research by EPA and other organizations.