Proposed Guidance for Implementation of Renewal Engineering Technologies for Drinking Water and Wastewater System Pipelines

The deterioration of water and wastewater infrastructure is a serious issue that utilities of all sizes are facing across the United States and internationally. As utilities find themselves in what AWWA referred to in 2007 as the “Dawn of the Replacement Era”, a stronger focus on identification of the best appropriate renewal engineering technologies and management practices to apply to deficient pipelines is absolutely critical. As part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Innovation and Research Plan for Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century (EPA, 2007), Virginia Tech, backed by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and EPA, has developed the WATER Infrastructure Database (WATERiD). This database has been designed to provide a comprehensive source of information for pipeline renewal engineering technologies and management practices, including case studies that document technology and practice implementations. The proposed guidance for implementation of renewal engineering technologies is being developed in the form of two synthesis analysis reports, one for drinking water pipelines and one for wastewater pipelines, based on knowledge gained from extensive literature review, data mining, and writing of the WATERiD renewal engineering technology case studies. Additional information to complement the synthesis analysis report will be available through WATERiD including, but not limited to, best appropriate management practices, geographical information system (GIS) databases, condition assessment technologies, cost information (bid, project, and technology costs), and data collection standards.