“Large and Critical Valve” Maintenance Strategies for Establishing System Control and Reliability

Over the past 20 years, advances in large diameter pipeline condition assessment and inspection tools have made pipeline asset management programs more exciting and effective, yet water distribution systems are still plagued with chronic valve problems. Unfortunately, the valve problems are often realized prior to planned pipeline inspections and during unplanned and reactive maintenance events. Whether performing planned and routine maintenance, or responding to reactive maintenance and catastrophic failure, the success of any pipeline project of any pipeline size, is largely dependent on the health and reliability of control valves. Unreliable valves are the leading factor in change orders, cost over-runs, extensive collateral damage, or even cancelation of important pipeline condition assessment projects. All of these problems and symptoms can be avoided by prioritizing the role of control valves and ensuring specific maintenance tasks occur before, during, and after pipeline shutdowns and inspections occur.