Starting a Condition Assessment Program for PCCP in Tampa Bay Water's Wholesale System

Abstract

A condition assessment program should be an integral part of a utility’s strategy for managing repair and replacement of their large diameter piping. Using nondestructive condition assessment and performance analysis can prolong the useful life of piping, reduce the risk of catastrophic failure, allow for target rehabilitation, and significantly reduce the community disruption and capital cost of pipeline replacement projects. Tampa Bay Water is a wholesale water provider with over $1 Billion in assets and over 100 miles of large diameter piping. Tampa Bay Water’s regional water delivery system supplies quality water to 2.3 million customers to six member governments: The cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties. The regional water system is comprised of groundwater and surface water sources, an off-stream storage reservoir, a seawater desalination plant and a collection of treatment facilities pipes and pumps. The focus of the agency has recently shifted from completing new water supply projects, to repairing and maintaining their large and diverse wholesale water treatment and conveyance system.