Issue link: https://resources.esri.ca/i/1188680
Reporting on the United States' water infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimated that the nation incurs 240,000 water main breaks each year, wasting two trillion gallons of treated drinking water. Even more daunting is the fact that the rate of main breaks has increased by 27 percent in the last six years, according to a study done by Utah State University in 2018. For many utilities, whether small or large, main breaks also bring negative press that stresses the utility and frustrates customers. Communities cannot afford the costs of water loss nor can they afford massive pipe replacement programs. They can, however, invest in technologies that reduce loss, improve efficiency, and keep customers informed. Water utilities modernize their systems to provide healthy, affordable water, yet they struggle with water infrastructure built in the last century. ASCE cites aging infrastructure as the primary cause of water main breaks. Many of the nation's water pipes were laid between the beginning and the middle of the last century. On the East Coast, water services for the Washington, DC, area reported that parts of its system have been in operation since 1928. On the West Coast, the water provider for Los Angeles estimates that 20 percent of its one million feet of pipeline is at least a century old. Pipes installed before 1980 are made of cast iron, a material that is brittle and cannot expand and contract with changing weather. When pipes begin to corrode and weaken, they become more susceptible to breaks. Climate also contributes to leaks. Summertime increases water demand, which builds pressure from inside pipes. Meanwhile, heat dries the soil, causing it to shrink away from pipes. This leaves space on the outside of pipes for the inside pressure to burst through. Conversely, built-up pressure in frozen pipes ruptures water mains. The situation becomes direr as leaks lower water pressure at the tap, which makes drinking water susceptible to bacteria and E. coli. Ground swelling around underground pipes puts stress on pipelines, causing them to leak. Also, corrosive soils eat away at pipes and fittings. Fortunately, geospatial technologies are a lifeline to water companies working to keep pace with the challenges of failing pipe systems. The Burden of Aging Infrastructure 3 Many utilities have reported efficiency gains in the range of 30–50 percent from equipping their staff with digital workflows in the field.