Force Main Condition Assessment is an Iterative Process

Force mains are a maintenance challenge for owners and condition assessment of these assets are often difficult to perform. Force main systems require ongoing maintenance and periodic improvements to address issues that, if left unchecked, can potentially lead to the release of raw wastewater into the environment. Force mains are typically characterized as strategically important assets where costs of failure are driven by high repair costs, and with severe impacts on both the public and the environment.It is important to recognize that each force main system is unique and standards that have been established to determine the condition of sanitary sewer collection systems may not be applicable to force main piping systems. For instance there are several types of piping materials in use such as metallic (cast iron or ductile iron), reinforced concrete pipe or asbestos cement. More recently pressurized force main piping systems have been constructed of inter materials such as HDPE or PVC. Although recent inert material choices are more robust, all piping systems are subject to wear and should be evaluated over time. Material selection is considered during the design and no forethought may have been made on the need for conducting future condition assessments.