{"id":786,"date":"2024-04-11T12:33:19","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T12:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jxbaixue.com\/?p=786"},"modified":"2024-04-15T12:21:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T12:21:59","slug":"new-utah-state-university-water-main-break-report-an-asset-management-tool-for-utilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jxbaixue.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/11\/new-utah-state-university-water-main-break-report-an-asset-management-tool-for-utilities\/","title":{"rendered":"New Utah State University Water Main Break Report: An Asset Management Tool for Utilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Please see below the press release issued by Utah State University regarding their latest water main break study. The report provides valuable information on water pipe condition and operation and can assist with asset management, water infrastructure planning, and pipe replacement decision-making. The goals are to control operating costs, reduce service level impacts, and minimize health risks to customers. The study is of interest to water utility professionals, policy makers as well as local lawmakers and enables utilities to benchmark pipe material performance.<\/span><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

New Report Says Lack of Funding for Critical Water Mains is $452 Billion, Over 260,000 Breaks Annually<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

LOGAN, Utah <\/strong>— Utah State University (USU) has published a third extensive study of commonly used water pipe materials titled, “Water Main Break Rates in the USA and Canada: A Comprehensive Study.”<\/p>\n

According to primary researcher, Professor Steven L. Barfuss, P.E., one of the most important indicators for identifying failing pipelines is water main break rates. Pipe performance continues to be impacted by soil corrosivity, and the replacement of asbestos cement and cast iron pipe is creating a shift in predominant pipe materials.<\/p>\n

“Our infrastructure is aging, causing water pipelines to deteriorate,” says Professor Barfuss. “Utilities can use this report to assist with asset management and facilitate water infrastructure planning and pipe replacement decision-making. The goals are to control operating costs, reduce service level impacts, and minimize health risks to customers.”<\/p>\n

Over 800 utilities were surveyed and almost 400,000 miles of pipe data were analyzed, representing 17% of the estimated 2.3 million miles of water mains in the United States and Canada. This data set is large enough to provide accurate information on the characteristics of aging pipe infrastructure and the costs of repair and replacement.<\/p>\n

“Notably, the report shows that 20% or 452,000 miles of water pipes in the US and Canada are beyond their useful lives and need to be replaced but have not been due to lack of funds. This represents a $452 billion shortfall. In 2012, utilities reported that only 8% of installed water mains were beyond their useful lives, so this is a growing problem,” Professor Barfuss adds.<\/p>\n

USU published similar studies in 2012 and 2018. The 2023 report references the previous studies to analyze changes over time. The sample size for this study is almost three times larger than the previous 2018 USU water main break survey. In terms of pipe mileage, this is the largest study in the US and Canada of its kind. Previous studies have been based on much smaller sample sizes and consequently may have reduced accuracy in data reporting.<\/p>\n

Major findings and benchmarks include:<\/p>\n