Failure monitoring and asset condition asssessment in water supply systems

Abstract

The main focus of this paper is the failure management and pipe condition assessment in water supply systems. The failure development mechanism, management cycle and associated costs are discussed and a brief review of existing methods and research results is made. The central focus of the paper is to present the main results of the PhD project carried out by the author. The aim of the work was to explore the feasibility of using the available low cost measurements and information to improve the operation, reliability, safety and availability of the urban water supply system. Continuous pressure monitoring was selected as a source of information. Algorithms for failure detection and location in both single pipelines and pipe networks were developed and tested in the field, using real water supply systems. Good results were obtained showing the potential of the proposed methods. A pressure transient based method for a low-cost non-intrusive pipeline condition assessment was developed and tested with positive results. Finally, a pressure transient based inline valve testing methodology was introduced allowing for a quick testing of valve seal quality. All presented methods can serve as tools to increase the reliability, availability, safety and efficiency of urban water supply systems.