Pipeline Condition Assessment

During this seminar participants will be engaged in instructional training, interactive exercises, and group sharing that will cover the key components of a condition assessment program, such as:

• Defining the problem(s) that the utility wants to solve with a condition assessment program.
• Developing condition assessment program goals, objectives, and data expectations.
• Building support and securing an annual budget for a condition assessment program (e.g., business case to present to management and elected governing officials).
• Prioritizing asset classes based on performance measures and risk (i.e., likelihood or probability and consequence of failure).
• Defining the utility’s risk tolerance and condition assessment thresholds.
• Creating a framework and data management system for collecting, storing, and using condition assessment data.
• Understanding and choosing the appropriate condition assessment methods and technologies.
• Evaluating the utility’s options for using in-house or contracting field inspection, data management, and engineering services.

Module 1 – Getting Started with Your Condition Assessment Program (Day 1 — 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

•  Learn how to establish prudent condition assessment program budgets
•  Generate ideas for where to start
•  Consider methods being used by other utilities to quantify and justify a program budget
•  Determine which method is right for your utility

•  Define desktop condition assessment
•  Discuss commonly used methods for performing a desktop condition assessment
•  Present different ways to estimate LOF and COF
•  Discuss how break data and failure mechanisms can be used to focus condition assessment and other investments

• Discuss reasons your utility might have for not locating, assessing, and operating small and large diameter valves
• Review the critical role of valves in the water delivery system
• Address the importance of regularly scheduled condition assessment and operation of isolation/control valves
• Present key components of a valve assessment program (benefits, goals, program approaches, in-house vs. outsourcing resources, field activities, data collection/documentation, and answers to common questions and concerns)

• Discuss reasons for conducting leak detection
• Learn how and why we use leak detection as a condition assessment tool
• Introduce currently available leak detection methods and tools (acoustic and non-acoustic)
• For acoustic leak detection methods, understand how sound travels through pipes and learn about methods for distribution pipes and transmission mains

• Discuss the benefits of pressure monitoring
• Learn about currently available equipment for pressure/transient pressure monitoring
• Cover factors to consider for installing and maintaining a pressure monitoring system

• Review causes and effects of corrosion on metallic pipelines
• Understand the various corrosion tests conducted in the field and laboratory
• Understand how cathodic protection systems work
• Learn how to employ anode retrofits as a rehabilitation measure for service connections

Module 2 – Choosing Inspection Methods & Technologies to Fit Your Needs (Day 2 — 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

• Evaluate inspection methods and technologies for pressure pipelines
• Consider various factors when selecting an inspection method
• Choose when and how to apply external corrosion direct assessment (ECDA) methods for metallic cylinder and direct assessment methods for concrete pipe and mortar coating

• Understand deterioration processes for asbestos cement (AC) pipe and plastic pipe, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe
• Learn which inspection methods and technologies may be useful for non-metallic pipe

• Address and discuss reasons for employing “lower effort” inspection methods and measurements
• Review commonly used tools for metallic pipe (CI, DI, steel) and concrete pressure pipe (CCP, RCCP, PCCP)
• Cover access requirements, civil site work and field support requirements, cost, and results

• Discuss “when” and “why” you would want to use a high-resolution inspection method
• Cover methods you may be familiar with (ultrasonics, magnetic flux leakage, electromagnetics)
• Discuss electromagnetic technology (principle, tools, applicability to different pipe types, deployment options, access requirements, verification of inspection results)

Module 3 – Budgeting and Planning for Condition Assessments (Day 3 — 8:00 a.m. – noon)

• Review typical databases of record for storing condition assessment data
• Discuss and learn best practices and guidelines to identify the right database of record for your next condition assessment project

• Identity the four parties involved in contracts for pipeline condition assessment projects and programs
• Evaluate contracting options at your utility for procuring engineering, inspection, and contractor services
• Apply rules and contracting preferences at your utility to identify and select the preferred contracting mechanism(s) for YOUR utility, based on 1) availability and capabilities of in-house resources, and 2) available contracting vehicles for procuring outside services

• Increase your confidence in preparing a realistic budget for your pipeline condition assessment project
• Apply what you have learned about inspection methods, executing field inspections, and contracting options to ensure all costs are accounted for and estimated accurately
• Learn some cost-saving techniques to reduce the budget needed for your pipeline condition assessment project

• After inspection is complete, learn how to effectively communicate the value of condition assessments to 1) external or non-technical stakeholders, and 2) internal or technical stakeholders, in an effort to sustain program momentum
• Hear how other utilities have successfully justified condition assessment expenditures to management and stakeholders
• Solutions to Utility-Specific Challenges and Concerns
• Obtain answers to your specific problems, challenges, concerns, or hurdles
• Use individual projects brought to the seminar by the participants as sample problems for the group to solve
• Complete individual action plans with help from the group or facilitator