Infrastructure Renewal Program

WaterOne has an infrastructure renewal program for evaluating and prioritizing water main replacements. Some of the factors considered in this analysis include size and age of main, frequency of breaks, location with regard to major thoroughfares, and cost of replacement. 

The utility has nearly 3,000 miles of pipeline throughout its distribution system to maintain.

Water mains range in size from 3/4-inch to 66-inch and range in age from 1915 to the present.  The challenge of any water main replacement program is to determine the priority of the mains to be replaced.

Replacing water mains is very costly. One of the ongoing challenges the utility faces is balancing our infrastructure renewal program with other utility needs.  Each year WaterOne budgets in excess of $3 million for main replacements. We know main breaks can be very frustrating to customers; however, financial constraints prevent us from adopting a more aggressive replacement schedule. To do so would require significant funding that would ultimately have to be passed on to our ratepayers.    

In order to establish a priority of replacing water mains, WaterOne established a criteria with a weighting system to give every water main a score.   The score for each segment of pipe is based on the following criteria:
 

	Pipe Age (When was the water main installed)
	Pipe Type (What is the material of the pipe)
	Pipe Size
	Break History (How many times has the water main broken)
	Critical User Proximity (How close to Hospital or School)
	Soil Type (Is the water main in corrosive soil)
	Cit Project Area ( Is the main within a future City Project Area)
	Financial Break Even Formula (A formula that provides an Financial approach)

·    By using these criteria to establish a
priority system for replacing water mains,   
WaterOne can plan for main replacements
in a financially responsible manner.  

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