Capacity, Management, Operations and Maintenance (CMOM)-Related Assessment of Sewer System Assets for Municipalities Utilizing an Information Management System

Many sewer system managers today are faced with managing both their routine Sewer Maintenance Programs and comprehensive Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Reduction Programs. As a result, enormous amounts of data are generated relative to these programs. Furthermore, there is a need to compile, process, and analyze an assortment of data related to these programs, and summarize the conditions of assets such as pipe and manholes. Investigation activities typically include cleaning, root cutting, televising, manhole inspections, smoke testing and building inspections. The impending program known as CMOM — Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance - will have far-ranging impacts upon sanitary sewer system owners and operators. Federal regulatory officials are developing regional response plans for sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). The regional plans will include enforcement and compliance assistance targets. Region 4 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already instituted a CMOM-Municipal Self-Audit Program as an initial step. In support of the ongoing need, we will discuss GIS based software designed to manage both Sewer Maintenance and I/I Reduction Programs. The asset management tool includes inventory, public system, private system, and reporting components. The program is useful primarily to sewer managers as a tool for managing day-to-day activities relating to sewer system tasks such as issuance of work orders and responding to customer complaints, but can also be utilized in conjunction with system modeling needs by engineers. Pipeline assessment is based upon a modified WRc-type rating system for categorizing the condition of sewers. Based upon the results of internal televisual inspection of sewers as part of routine annual maintenance or an I/I program, a grading system is applied for specific defects identified and an overall rating is applied to each sewer segment. Prioritized rehabilitation programs can then be implemented in a systematic fashion. Appropriate case study data will be presented as an example of specific communities implementing and utilizing a data management tool as part of daily sewer system activities.