Risk-Based Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Planning in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado, has a population of more than 400,000 people with a metropolitan service area of more than 600,000. Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) had identified a need to evaluate the effectiveness of its current potable water project identification and prioritization model, assess different techniques to ascertain pipe condition and predict pipe failures, and assess alternatives to open cut replacement that would mitigate the risk of water main failure at a lower cost and with reduced impact to customers. This paper provides an overview of studies carried out on the existing program and potable water system in Colorado Springs and the development of a unique risk-based framework to facilitate both condition assessment and rationalization of rehabilitation requirements for its entire potable water distribution network. It also provides both an overview of the overall risk-based approach and examples of initial condition assessment programming tools, techniques, and results. Phase 1 of the program was completed in 2012/2013 and Phase 2, which includes the deployment of field-based condition assessment activities, commenced in 2014.