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Current and Emerging Water Main Relining Technologies
Citation:
Matthews, J. C., A. SELVAKUMAR, AND W. Condit. Current and Emerging Water Main Relining Technologies. IN: Trenchless Technology Magazine, Benjamin Media Inc (BMI), Peninsula, OHDecember 2011:3 p, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The need for investment in aging underground infrastructure has been estimated as high as $325 billion over the next 20 years (AWWA, 2001a). The impact due to the current lack of investment had been reported in numerous studies including the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card, which assigned a grade of D- grade to the nation’s drinking water infrastructure (ASCE, 2009). Issues that hinder the renewal of water distribution infrastructure include the current replacement rate. Water utilities in the U.S. currently replace about 0.5% of their pipeline assets each year, with individual programs typically ranging from 0 to 1.5% per year. As a long-term rate, this appears inadequate since water mains are not expected to last 200 years. There is an increasing availability of water main relining technologies, which provide solutions that minimize replacement problems while providing potentially cost-effective alternatives to traditional open cut replacement. This article summarizes a recent EPA report (Morrison et al., 2011) on comprehensive review of existing and emerging renewal technologies for water distribution systems. Generally, renewal includes a broad spectrum of approaches, from repair to replacement, and water main relining methods typically fall into the rehabilitation category, which are techniques that are often used to extend the operational life and restore much or all of the pipe’s hydraulic capacity, improve water quality, and/or restore structural functionality. Rehabilitation approaches vary by pipe size; small mains (i.e., pipes less than 16 in.) are typically easier to replace, except in areas where access is difficult and typically less consequential when they fail; large mains (i.e., pipes 16 in. and larger) are typically more consequential when they break and require a more proactive condition assessment and renewal strategy.
