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Aging Water Infrastructure
Citation:
TAFURI, A. N. AND R. I. FIELD. Aging Water Infrastructure. Presented at 2010 International Workshop on Sustainable Water Environment , Taipei, TAIWAN, June 30 - July 01, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI) research program is part of EPA’s larger effort called the Sustainable Water Infrastructure (SI) initiative. The SI initiative brings together drinking water and wastewater utility managers; trade associations; local watershed protection organizations; and federal, state, and local officials to ensure that all components of our nation’s water infrastructure….drinking water treatment plants, drinking water distribution lines, sewer lines, and storage facilities….meet future needs. The AWI research program supports the four priority areas of the SI initiative’s strategy: (1) Better Management – moving beyond compliance to sustainability and improved performance, (2) Full-cost Pricing – helping utilities to recognize the full cost of providing service over the long term, (3) Water Efficiency – promoting water efficiency in the residential and commercial sectors, (4) Watershed Approach – integrating watershed management principles and tools into utility planning and management practices. The driving force behind the SI initiative and the AWI research program is the “Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis.” In this report, EPA estimated that if operation, maintenance, and capital investment remain at current levels, the potential funding shortage for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure could exceed $500 billion by 2020. This funding gap could narrow with the application of innovative technologies and management practices. The AWI research program has identified the critical research needs related to our aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. EPA is working with collaborators and stakeholders to conduct technology research, development, and demonstration projects to fill the identified research gaps in four main areas: (1) Condition Assessment - To assess the condition of a drinking water distrbution or wastewater collection systems, data and information are gathered through observation, direct inspection, investigation, and indirect monitoring and reporting. An analysis of the data and information helps determine the structural, operational, and performance status of capital infrastructure assets. Condition assessment also includes failure analysis to determine the causes of infrastructure failures and to develop ways to prevent future breakdowns. Condition assessment enhances the ability of utilities to make technically sound judgments regarding asset management. (2) System Rehabilitation is the application of infrastructure repair, renewal, and replacement technologies in order to reinstate functionality in a drinking water or wastewater system or subsystem. The proper balance of the repair, renewal, and replacement depends on the condition assessment, the life-cycle costs of various rehabilitation options, and the related risk reductions. (3) Advanced Concepts - Developing advanced concepts relates to the application of innovative infrastructure designs, management procedures, and operational approaches. The infusion of these advanced concepts into an established system is especially challenging; for example, the innovative concept could be a retrofit solution, but compatibility with the in-place system is critical. Advanced concepts go beyond asset management to include maximizing the benefits from low-impact development, water reuse, source water protection, and watershed management. (4) Wastewater and Water Reuse Treatment Technologies - These technologies address the dynamic requirements for improved water quality and the growing demand for safe and reliable reclaimed wastewater and storm water. For example, wet-weather flows at water treatment plants must be managed more effectively in order to reduce pathogen content, and there are new challenges relating to the capability of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to interfere with, and even inhibit, the wastewater treatment process. Projects under the AWI research program include technology demonstrations; state-of-the-technology assessments; applied research; field applications; basic research; and bench-scale, pilot-scale, and controlled-condition testing. The projects focus on: optimizing repair, rehabilitation, and replacement; extending the service life of installed drinking water and wastewater system components; reducing system failures and their adverse effects on public health and the environment; reducing sewer overflows and backups; evaluating the performance and cost of innovative technologies and approaches; investigating advanced system design and management concepts; detecting, locating, and characterizing leaks in drinking water distribution and wastewater collection systems; designing systems with green infrastructure and low-impact development components to attenuate wastewater flows; and, reducing high-risk water main and force main breaks.