It is becoming increasingly important that water distribution companies around the world gain a better understanding of the current condition and performance of their underground assets. This increased knowledge will enable companies to better identify the risks they face. prioritise the needs for investment and to determine the most appropriate remedial action. Buried pipes, valves and fittings can account for up to 70% of the total value of Water Company assets. Although catastrophic pipeline failure in a water supply network may not have the same safety implications for the operator as it might for a gas supply network; it can still result in loss of supply, major damage to public property and pose a severe local flooding risk. To fully assess the condition of underground assets it will be necessary for water companies and their operators to undertake a detailed programme of inspection and diagnosis. This should build on the current practice of using indicators such as; failure frequencies, leakage history, ground conditions and pipe age to determine network condition.
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