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Condition assessment of appurtenances: A water sector perspective
Author(s) -
Marlow David R.,
Beale David J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.5942/jawwa.2012.104.0003
Subject(s) - risk analysis (engineering) , perspective (graphical) , computer science , business , environmental resource management , engineering , operations management , management science , environmental science , artificial intelligence
Managing appurtenances within a water supply network can be a challenge for utilities. Condition assessment provides one means of gaining the information needed to make management decisions. This article presents results from research undertaken to develop guidance on such assessments, focusing primarily on isolation valves and hydrants. An overview of the research is given, with specific emphasis on the insights gained from interactions with utilities in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The results show that a broad range of management strategies are used—e.g., some utilities assess all valves on a cyclic basis, whereas others have no program of assessments at all. Inspection intervals specified in industry guidelines are not generally applied, and pragmatic approaches to inspections tend to be used. In the face of resource constraints, the authors concluded that utilities should adopt a risk‐based approach that focuses maintenance efforts on “critical” valves.