The most effective strategy to safely manage a force main inventory is to implement a risk based approach for any data collection, inspection, condition assessment, and management techniques. Using asset risk to guide the management strategies, an owner/operator can ensure they are implementing the right approach, at the right time, with the lowest financial impact.

Around the world, critical valves are in poor repair, or even inoperable. When critical valves fail, managers have effectively lost control of their system, increasing vulnerability to water main breaks or any other system hazard. Once valves have failed, utilities have traditionally sought to replace them, often at great cost, both in terms of time and expense.

To ensure safe and reliable water service for its customers, EPCOR partnered with Pure Technologies, a Xylem brand to complete a high-resolution condition assessment. The team inspected a 9.4-kilometer (5.8-mi) section of the critical Northside Pipeline for leaks and pipe wall deterioration.