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 Water Distribution Systems

 
Image: Broken pipe Distribution Systems AWI Research
Every day, we depend on the health, environmental, social, and economic benefits that clean and safe water provides. So that we can continue to enjoy these benefits, we must create a sustainable water infrastructure.

Consider these dramatic facts:

  • There are 240,000 water main breaks per year in the United States.
  • A 2005 British study correlated self-reported diarrhea with low water-pressure events (including water main breaks).
  • The number of breaks increases substantially near the end of the system’s service life. Large utility breaks in the Midwest increased from 250 per year to 2,200 per year during a 19-year period. In 2003, Baltimore, Maryland, reported 1,190 water main breaks—that’s more than three per day.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that water lost from water distribution systems is 1.7 trillion gallons per year at a national cost of $2.6 billion per year.
EPA has estimated that if spending for capital investment and operations and maintenance remain at current levels, the potential gap in funding for 2000–2019 would be approximately $263 billion for our drinking water infrastructure.

Facing the Challenge – EPA Research

The Aging Water Infrastructure research program promotes research and development for promising new technologies and techniques that increase the effectiveness and lower the cost of our water distribution systems.

The following high-priority research, demonstration, and technology transfer projects are proposed to help address the challenge:

Condition Assessment of Water Distribution Systems

  • Project Selection Tools: value of condition assessment
  • Basic and Applied Research: investigations of causes, mechanisms, and
    predictability of failure in order to enhance condition assessment capability

System Rehabilitation

  • Technology Demonstration/Verification Program: emerging and innovative
    technologies for pressure pipe rehabilitation
  • Applied Research: rehabilitation vs. replacement decision making

Advanced Concepts

  • Retrospective and Prospective Assessments: dual systems for potable and
    nonpotable uses
  • Evaluate and Improve Distribution System Models

In addition, work in several areas will be applied to all projects:

  • Cost effectiveness, cost/benefit analysis, and life-cycle costing
  • Performance and outcome measurement
  • Technology baseline development and state-of-the-technology evaluations
  • Decision support systems
  • Systems modeling
  • Integrated management system

 

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