AWWA IMTECH59619

Long Beach Water Department (LBWD) provides water and wastewater services in the 5th largest city in California. Its potable water system contains 912 miles of mains with over 121,000 services. LBWD is replacing its aging infrastructure at an affordable and responsible pace. Prioritizing CIP (Capital Improvement Program) projects and replacing water mains just in time present a challenge. Since 1994 LBWD has been taking advantage of the latest GIS technologies to enhance its productivity and efficiency. Mainbreaks data for the past 12 years have been incorporated into its comprehensive GIS databases. Mainbreaks intensity was calculated and sorted in a descending order. Then pipe segments in more critical need of replacement were selected. This mainbreaks analysis application supports decision making in CIP planning, budgeting, and operations.