Mayors Water Council

Newsletter of the Mayors Water Council of The United States Conference of Mayors

Winter 2008

ASSET MANAGEMENT from page 

may choose to combine main replacement and street resurfac-

and supply needs, disruption of traffic and local commerce,

ing projects into a single contract.

and sink holes.

EPA and local regulatory agencies often tie compliance to

Water distribution pipes installed today are much different

maintenance and operation of water and wastewater systems.

than materials used in the late-1800's. Modern manufacturing

Water distribution systems must meet newly enacted rules

methods allow production of thin pipe walls with comparative

that regulate the adequacy of disinfection and disinfectant

high structural strengths. Reduced amounts of metal in modern

byproduct formation. Predictably, this data is most effectively

pipes increase vulnerability to corrosion, much more so than

evaluated with the GIS tools. Essential maintenance of sewer

in the past. Thus, variations in soils and installation may result

lines, pump stations, water and wastewater treatment facilities,

in reduced service life for relatively new piped systems. Proper

hydrant flushing and valve exercising each may be linked to

records may help to identify locations where similar conditions

the GIS mapping base.

predict imminent pipeline failure.

Liners, pipe bursting, closed circuit tele-

A six to eight year financial plan is essential in meeting the

continuing construction and operating needs of water and

vising and "smart PIGS".

wastewater utilities. Detailed master planning, assisted by a

consulting engineering firm provides critical information aid-

Pipe condition evaluation and repair includes its own terms

ing the community's asset management initiative. Issuance of

and changing technology. Pipe condition assessment methods

revenue bonds calls for a commitment to a rate setting plan.

vary in cost and sophistication. Smart PIGS are devices directed

Utility rates require a clear focus to the revenue requirements

inside a pipeline to detect and locate pipe defects, including cor-

to fund operations and capital construction. While financial

rosion. Data developed through internal inspection methods pro-

needs vary from year to year the projections over three years

vide beneficial information that helps create relative priorities for

need to remain relatively constant.

replacement. The data can actually be used to predict the likely

Capital projects planning provides a construction strategy

remaining life leading to failure. Closed circuit television is a tool

into the future. An appropriate level of master planning is essen-

used in sewer pipeline and occasionally water main evaluation.

tial for each community, whether gaining or loosing population.

Smart PIGS and eddy current technology allow evaluation of

Asset replacement is a continuing need, even for those commu-

water mains without destruction of the pipe itself. Useful informa-

nities experiencing declining population. In replacing facilities,

tion about internal pipeline condition may be determined using

it may be possible to reduce lengths of pipe, to match changes

hydrant flow tests and water quality testing.

in land use. Master planning provides the vision to match water

Pipe bursting and inserting liners are construction meth-

and wastewater service requirements to changing land uses.

ods that can sometimes be applied to avoid digging up an

entire pipeline. When appropriate, these techniques can save

GIS: a community tool.

disruption to the public and avoid more costly repairs and

replacements.

Municipalities are increasingly investing in digitized "graph-

A goal-oriented, proactive, pipeline asset management

ical information systems" (GIS) mapping systems. These map-

strategy is vital to the long term economic viability of a com-

ping systems are invaluable in graphically recording a wide

munity and public health. It is critical for a community to have

range of community functions. Cities are applying GIS tools in

an evolving framework to set goals and measure progress in

managing programs and allocating resources for crime pre-

meeting established objectives. Water and sewer main breaks

vention, public health and piped systems, to name a few. Cre-

are benchmarked by utilities to track system-wide performance.

ating the digitized mapping base is a significant community

Systems experiencing growing numbers of main breaks are

investment. GIS proves to be invaluable in communicating with

challenged to support the existing community and also assist

public and elected officials.

growth related construction.

The GIS is a powerful tool that aids in targeting maintenance

The Human Asset, Public Relations and

and capital programs. With a mapping base in place, utility

operations can attach system histories of repairs, failures, age

Planned Succession.

of pipe, material and soil type. Piped system work orders are

tied to the mapping base to aid in performing failure analysis.

Customers and their service expectations are the first con-

Replacement and repair priorities can be compared through

siderations in setting pipeline rehabilitation priorities. Ade-

the mapping base with other construction projects. Managers

see ASSET MANAGEMENT on page 6

5