In 2016, EPAL recognized a deviation in the non-revenue water (NRW) trend since implementation of the DMA program. The issue was promptly identified in two supply zones, encompassing 150 kilometers of water transmission mains, predominately composed of large diameter reinforced concrete pipe built in 1965.

In recent years, the condition assessment of wastewater mains has become heavily regulated and required by law.

When the utility identified the main for priority inspection, they welcomed the strategy of combining a SmartBall leak detection inspection with a pilot run of Xylem’s cutting-edge PipeDiver Ultra, an advanced condition assessment platform that analyzes ultrasonic data to deliver actionable insights on the physical integrity of the pipeline.

In 2002, the EPA entered into a federal consent decree with MSD, mandating the elimination of sanitary sewer overflows and significant mitigation of combined sewer overflows into receiving waterways. Engineers estimated the cost to mitigate the sewer overflows at $3.1 billion, an unacceptable capital expense to pass along to MSD’s customers.

Around the world, critical valves are in poor repair, or even inoperable. When critical valves fail, managers have effectively lost control of their system, increasing vulnerability to water main breaks or any other system hazard. Once valves have failed, utilities have traditionally sought to replace them, often at great cost, both in terms of time and expense.

New standards of best practice for force main management involve a variety of methods and technologies to provide data and information with which to make decisions. Utilities can now often perform a detailed condition assessment while the force main remains in service.

This mid-sized utility located in Orange County, California has long been proactive in encouraging water conservation through regulations and outreach programs. Well over a decade ago, the utility became concerned with ongoing apparent water loss (water that is consumed but not properly measured, accounted or paid for) and the economic, social and environmental costs associated with this issue.

The cost of caring for a daughter with cerebral palsy created a challenge for the Salazars to finance and build a well on their modest income. For more than two decades, the family has made do with sharing water from the well located on the neighboring property owned by Nancy’s parents.

Xylem Vue has helped to reduce Cuxhaven’s WWTP aeration energy requirements by over 26% and meet its effluent quality requirements.

The power utility supplies high grade water for their own internal processes as well other industrial customers. Tuas Power was experiencing leaks within their distribution network, which were unexpected because these pipelines were less than five years old, made of steel, and laid above ground.

As part of a pre-emptive program to address non-revenue water loss and understand the condition of their pipes, Gothenburg wanted to conduct a condition assessment and leak detection survey on a series of large diameter transmission mains. The three pipelines were built in the 1960s and made of cement and steel, ranging in size from 1000 mm to 1200 mm.

Predictive monitoring and automated control optimized combined sewer operations, reducing overflow volumes and deferring major capital infrastructure investment.

The assessment was urgent, as Flower Mound planned to widen a major road next to the main and wanted reliable information on the condition of that particular pipeline before the road was built. Any necessary repairs or replacement needed to be completed prior to construction to avoid significant disruption and additional expense.

Over the last few years, the operation and maintenance of the large valves had declined due to focus being placed on other critical priorities. Without a consistent exercise routine for critical valves, the utility found that many of these valves were inoperable and, as a result, began to seek funding for valve replacements.