AN INVESTIGATION OF WATER PIPELINE RENEWAL PRACTICES

Abstract

Globally, the use of trenchless technologies is gradually increasing due to the growing need to replace and renew aging utility infrastructure and the need for more flexible solutions for the installation of new pipes. In the United States of America, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2017 assessed that America’s infrastructure is close to failing. It faces an annual shortfall of at least $11 billion to replace the aging facilities that are near the end of their useful lives. In this research, surveys and interviews of professionals working in trenchless technologies for the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) No-Dig Show in California were carried out and the results were analyzed. The surveys focused on the structural lining system classification, the required data to design water pipe rehabilitation method, the most recent growth in trenchless technologies for water main rehabilitation methods, and the safety of renewal methods. Another interview and residential survey was conducted to calculate the social cost of the open cut method. The surveys focused on major hindrances, traffic disruption, property damage, and safety requirements. Survey results indicate that the cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) method will be the method of choice compared with other pipe replacement and renewal methods.