ID:
publications-4647
Type:
article
Year:
1982
Authors:
Walski, Thomas M. and Walski, Thomas M. and Walski, Thomas M. and Walski, Thomas M. and Pelliccia, Anthony and Pelliccia, Anthony
Title:
Economic analysis of water main breaks
Venue/Journal:
Journal American Water Works Association
DOI:
10.1002/j.1551-8833.1982.tb04874.x
Research type:
Water System:
Technical Focus:
Abstract:
Water distribution systems have a finite life. As pipes age, they lose their carrying capacity and become prone to breakage. There comes a time when it is more economical to replace a pipe than to repair it. Many cities, especially older ones in the Northeast, are having to deal with the high breakage rates typical of decaying systems. Unfortunately, little quantitative information is available to help water utilities determine precisely when a pipe should be replaced. The distribution system for the city of Binghamton, N.Y., is more than 100 years old and experiences pipe failures each year. In an effort to upgrade the system at the lowest possible cost, the state of New York asked the Baltimore district of the US Army Corps of Engineers to conduct an urban water supply system study for Binghamton. Baltimore district personnel inventoried the mains in the system, giving special attention to the number of pipe failures. With the use of a computer data base they prepared tables on the characteristics of the system and a report that summarized the occurrence of breaks for each pipe within the system. The report also offered some insight into the probable cause of the varying rates at which breaks occur (e.g., breaks resulting from severe cold weather between the months of
Link with Projects:
Link with Tools:
Related policies:
ID:
