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  • 1.  Physical Condition Assessment Practices for Water Utilities Assets

    Posted 13-01-2022 03:54
    Hi all,
    I am looking for practices and suggestions on estimating / performing a Physical Condition Assessments in Water Treatment Plants, Pump Stations and buried Pipelines.

    I need to do an "initial" physical assessment, we don't have reliable historical data for a model, this will be part of our asset management system implementation.

    Are there any "quick estimation" guidelines that takes into account asset years of age and rate of incidents/year as a factor for estimation?

    For Buried Pipelines specifically, anyone using estimation practices taking into account factors as: pipeline age, diameter, water pressure and pipe material, or historical leaks to sort of estimate the pipes are (or can be classified as) in Very Good, Good, Fair or Poor, Very Poor condition?

    For the ones using a more accurate approach and proactive actions - what kind of models and technology do you guys use for your condition assessments?

    (P.S. We are in the very early stages of asset management system implementation)

    Thanks,
    Rence

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    Rence Rincones
    SaskWater
    Manager, Asset Management
    Moose Jaw SK
    Canada
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  • 2.  RE: Physical Condition Assessment Practices for Water Utilities Assets

    Posted 15-01-2022 03:10
    Hi Rence,

    We have completed our database including the physical condition of assets for our water treatment plants.

    For the physical conditions we use 5 conditions (Very Good, Good, Fair/Medium, Poor, Very Poor).
    For each of them, we have a description (example: very good = new asset, asset life <10%, no failure; and very poor = don't run or asset life > 100%)
    This description helps but the key is a professional view with the field staff.

    You are in the early stages of asset management system implementation, I have been working on it for many years, and I believe (and i'm convinced) that success requires multi-level involvement, start with a good inventory of equipment and a defined objective to include other data (condition, criticality, risk, replacement cost, installation date, etc.)

    Don't hesitate if you have any questions, it will be a pleasure to exchange with you.

    Best regards,

    Amaury


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    Amaury Garel
    Responsable de la gestion des actifs ponctuels
    Service de l'eau
    Ville de Montreal
    Montreal, QC
    Canada
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  • 3.  RE: Physical Condition Assessment Practices for Water Utilities Assets

    Posted 15-01-2022 04:38
    Hi Rence,

    We are at the very early stages as well. We are starting off with some age based analysis for all our assets.
    Thereafter, we are planning to do some risk analysis. This is expected to give us a good idea of which assets to dive deeper in to the type of analysis you are describing.

    Silje,
    Accountant,
    Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

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    Silje Albrigtsen
    Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
    Accountant
    Pemberton BC
    Canada
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  • 4.  RE: Physical Condition Assessment Practices for Water Utilities Assets

    Posted 15-01-2022 07:35
    Hi Rence,

    In the province of Quebec, we have to do a Plan d'intervention in order to receive grant funding on water mains, sewers and roads.
    The ministry gave us a process to collect the data and to apply indicators. All cities have to comply with this so we have the same set of data and indicators.

    For water mains for example, there is 3 mandatory indicators:
    - Number of repairs
    - Repair ratio
    - Useful life

    For each indicators, a scale with 5 stages is set.

    You can find all the information here: https://ceriu.qc.ca/system/files/guide_plan_intervention_2013.pdf

    It is in french but I'm sure you can find some valuable information.

    Regards,
    Justine


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    Justine Baudart
    Ville de Bromont
    Coordonnatrice aux infrastructures et à la gestion des actifs
    Bromont QC
    Canada
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  • 5.  RE: Physical Condition Assessment Practices for Water Utilities Assets

    Posted 15-01-2022 07:48
    That does look like a great framework, but I know zero to none French (although I do know 6 other languages). Does anyone know if Ontario has something similar?

    Thanks,
    Silje

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    Silje Albrigtsen
    Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
    Accountant
    Pemberton BC
    Canada
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  • 6.  RE: Physical Condition Assessment Practices for Water Utilities Assets

    Posted 16-01-2022 20:01
    Hi Rence
    You may find useful information (high level rating system) in the 2012 Infrastructure Report Card at http://canadianinfrastructure.ca/downloads/Canadian_Infrastructure_Report_Card_EN.pdf

    The rating is the commonly used 1-5 scale and the report card provides a scale for various performance criteria (physical condition and demand/capacity. There is also an indication of the relationship between the 1-5 scale and other industry condition assessment ratings.

    The 2016 and 2019 report cards don't contain the same detailed information.

    Hope this helps.

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    Guy Felio
    Dr. Guy Félio
    Senior Advisor
    Ontario
    Canada
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