Decision Making Process for the Most Appropriate Pipe Rehabilitation Method by Holistic Evaluation Technique

A significant percentage of the pipelines in the United States were installed in the early to mid-20th century, and many still in service have exceeded their intended design life. As a result, there are significant needs for pipeline rehabilitation or renewal. Selecting an appropriate rehabilitation methodology is a complex decision in which pipe material, diameter, and design loading must be considered. The primary drivers in determining the most appropriate rehabilitation or replacement method include cost, scheduling, service life of the repair, impacts to existing operations, constructability, impacts to surrounding communities, surface preparation, allowable diameter reduction, safety, and the ability to accommodate misalignments. The Westminster Boulevard Force Main Replacement project, currently under construction, involves the replacement of two parallel sewer force mains using a combination of open trench, slip-lining, and cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP). These technologies were carefully selected after considering numerous technologies and demonstrate that a holistic approach to choosing a rehabilitation method assists owners and engineers in making better informed decisions.