Conference Agenda

Reliably assessing the condition of buried pressurized sewer force main pipelines is one of the last remaining (and technically arduous) practical challenges for collection system managers. The failure modes for these assets can be complex and the consequences severe. This presentation will share how, as part of their proactive asset management strategy, the City of Portland, Ore. has begun a systematic approach to inspect all 100+ of the force mains in their system. The discussion will focus on the two key efforts of both building a framework in which all the assessment data may be used to calculate business risk to the City, and deploying the full suite of field investigation technologies presently available in the marketplace. To be successful, first the risk-based framework needed to be capable of distilling inspection data from multiple vendors, sources, and methods into meaningful insights for the likelihood of failure in different scenarios. The objective was to provide a framework by which the force main risk could be objectively compared (in “apples to apples terms”) to the risk posed by other assets in the City’s portfolio. Secondly, when it came to the field deployment of inspection tools, because most older force mains were constructed before inspection technologies were available, success depended on anticipating the necessary site-civil, pipe-mechanical, and operational/logistical updates needed for each investigation. This presentation will cover both these aspects of the program and provide two different perspectives: that of the municipal system owner responsible for overseeing the effort and ensuring that it addressed the resources and needs specific to the City; and that of the condition assessment service provider responsible for the execution of the program and analysis of the inspection data. Concepts for asset management best-practices related to force mains will be presented; as well as practical metrics for cost and schedule associated with implementing a force main field investigation program. The session will be geared towards collection system asset managers, operations & maintenance specialists, and conveyance engineers.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant (CBWTP) was first constructed in 1952 and continues to expand. Many process pipes and plumbing systems are original to the plant’s construction and had become forgotten brethren of CBWTP. Prior to this project, most pipes had not been inspected internally during their lifetime or assessed for their condition and remaining useful life (RUL)​. The CBWTP has experienced an increase in pipe breaks in the recent years causing process areas to be shutdown, creating a detrimental impact on plants operations and a sharp increase in financial expenditures​. Frequent breaks and leaks have also taken significant a toll on the operations and maintenance staff who are continuously patching piping systems to ensure reliable operations of the treatment plant.

BES condition assessment program has engaged with Kennedy Jenks consultants to prioritize, inspect, and assess plant process piping to move BES towards proactive management of its pipe assets. The primary goal of this project is to identify BES’s risk exposure due to these aging pipe assets to enable tailored and sustainable long-term replacement/ rehabilitation strategies.

This presentation will outline the vision and catalysts for this project, along with sharing success stories and how other utilities can adopt similar programs. Attendees will learn about developing a truly integrated asset management solution, from identifying pipe assets, managing these process piping assets in CMMS, developing GIS, 3D scanning and modelling tools, applying risk and prioritization tools, using advanced condition assessment technology and conducting this with careful coordination with plant scheduling restraints. Finally, the presentation will focus on the aspect of creating a cultural change in managing assets, one that proactively inspects piping systems and avoids unforeseen breaks and leaks through effective risk communication long after the team members have moved on.