Asset Management of Sanitary and Storm Sewer System Components Using Condition Assessment

Abstract

Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34) sets new requirements for reporting operations and capital assets. It is requiring local government entities to create an inventory, and assess the condition, of all municipal assets. The documentation resulting from this undertaking will be utilized by lending agencies to determine asset management capabilities and the resulting financial rating of the entity. Future lending decisions will be based upon the complete itemization of the inventory appraisal. In addition to obvious assets such as roads, bridges, buildings, furniture, vehicles and equipment, unseen assets make up a significant portion of a municipality's asset base. Underground utilities are critical assets that must be assessed and recorded. Sanitary sewer pipelines, manholes, pump stations, storm sewer pipelines, catch basins, inlets and waterlines are among the utility assets a municipality owns, operates and maintains. The Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance (CMOM) provisions of the forthcoming Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Regulations and the Phase II Stormwater requirements address best management practices (BMPs) for operating and maintaining specific utility systems. Accurate mapping and field investigation approaches are the first steps for creating a utility system inventory. Information obtained during visual field inspections is critical to ascertain the condition of components such as manholes, catch basins and inlets. Digital cameras, standard inspection forms and sketches are used to record and summarize this information. Zoom cameras and closed-circuit television cameras are used to determine the internal condition of pipelines. This information is recorded and summarized on standard log sheets and videotapes of DVDs. This paper present case studies where field inspections were utilized, in conjunction with condition ranking classifications, to create an inventory of sanitary and storm sewer system assets. Data obtained and summarized was utilized to develop a prioritization of defects for a phased replacement/rehabilitation plan of action.