Life Cycle Cost Model for Operating and Maintaining Wastewater Sewer Systems

摘要

A comprehensive life cycle cost analysis is a time-consuming undertaking and often avoided by engineers. This article describes an interactive 30-year life cycle model for the operation and maintenance of a wastewater system that simplifies life cycle cost calculations. Wastewater sewer systems are highly susceptible to corrosion and require diligent maintenance to prevent failures (Figures 1 and 2). The purpose of the life cycle engineering model is to estimate the life cycle cost (LCC) for constructing, operating, and maintaining a wastewater system. The specific objectives are as follows:1) Identify the important parameters that influence the cost of constructing and maintaining a wastewater system with infiltration. 2) Develop a LCC model spanning 30 years. 3) Quantify the major components such as length of pipes, number of manholes, and the size of the treatment plants. 4) Incorporate certain maintenance and rehabilitation methods for various sizes of wastewater systems with changing populations and identify the most cost-effective plan.