Water Pipes Asset Management: Evaluation of EU CARE-W

Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a grant to Polytechnic University in order to conduct an independent evaluation of the European program CARE-W (Computer Aided Rehabilitation of Water networks.) Purposes included acquiring proficiency at using the various modules, disseminating knowledge, evaluating the resources deployed, and conducting an assessment of the modules. This review presents an overview of the CARE-W program, the development and testing processes and results, a review of the modules themselves, and an evaluation of the impact and penetration in Europe. CARE-W has the commendable merit to have set new standards in water Asset Management (AM) practices. It also recognizes the fact that water AM issues are complex and that an attempt at their realistic and scientific resolution requires to tap into advanced tools already commonly used in other industries. CARE-W has paved the way toward a comprehensive and flexible framework of analysis; clear steps have been defined; tools can be added on, modified, improved. In addition, a community of researchers from many different countries was able to work collaboratively and train future professionals to think creatively about AM within the CARE-W analytical spirit. In its current condition, each module can already be used by trained professionals to help make decisions for future rehabilitation projects. There is a need for further full scale demonstration projects.