SPONSOR:
National Institute for Water Resources, Water Resources Research Institute Program
PROJECT PERIOD:
3/1/2009 – 2/28/2010
ABSTRACT:
The development of asset management plans for public facilities was strongly recommended by the EPA and GAO. At the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS), there was an apparent need to develop such a plan. BWS has experienced numerous pipe breaks in recent years that have resulted in disruption of water delivery to customers. An asset management plan would help BWS optimize its spending for replacement and maintenance and provide a high level of customer service. This project examined the in-house decision tool currently used at BWS for strategizing pipeline replacement and then will improve on it. Parameters such as age of pipe, location, soil properties, pipe depth, pipe diameter, burst frequency, surge pressures, cost of replacement, and amount of funding available were considered. Correlations were sought among these different parameters. A scoring-based prioritization system was developed, and the application of operations research programs for arriving at optimal decision systems was explored. Statistical risk analysis was pursued to create decision support confidence zones and prepare estimates for reliability, availability, and probabilities of failure.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR