AWWA ACE58274

Distribution system integrity is the most capital-intensive issue faced by water utilities. Considering the high replacement value of systems, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement require sustained attention from management. Water utilities are concerned about high investments required, quality of water in pipes, and appropriateness of research products. This paper provides an overview of the issues and research findings to date, based on an AWWA Research Foundation (AWWARF) project on integrity of water supply infrastructure. The paper offers a "systems view," with multiple perspectives of the problem and solutions, beginning with issue trees of the problem and its solution. Then, important management questions are answered about roles and responsibilities for solving the problem of distribution system integrity. Components of the problem divide into capital and operating issues, then into indicators that include cost, level of service, water quality, and social disruption. These divide into nine indicators of distribution system effectiveness that are similar to those developed in other AWWARF research. Solutions are illustrated with an issue tree that includes knowing what to do, being capable of doing it, and being motivated to do it. These divide into categories of solutions, each of which yields one or more management practices and assessment variables. The project has twenty participating utilities and will have completed three workshops by June of 2003, including the main workshop. This paper is a summary of part of the information that will be included in the project report, scheduled for release early in 2004. Includes 21 references, tables, figures.