Pipe Inspection – The Myth of Perfect Data

Pressure pipe inspection in the water and wastewater sectors is growing strongly around the world. Great technologies and constant innovation are making inspections faster, more accurate and less disruptive. The capability to inspect and acquire valuable data on the condition of water mains and sewer force mains, in challenging conditions and across a wide range of pipe materials, is ever more impressive and will continue to be so.

Even the best inspection reports, and some are very good indeed, merely confirm the presence, location and extent of a problem – 35% wall thickness loss, 20 medium-size water leaks, 50 broken prestressing wires, 15% ovality, etc. Where does this leave the pipe owner? How does he or she know whether this constitutes a risk of pipe failure, immediately or imminently? What should they do?

Pipe inspection contractors say they provide condition assessment. They don’t! They process their data and present it well. This is good as far as it goes but is far short of condition assessment and leaves the owner with confirmation of a problem but with precious few answers. The inspection itself is merely one step in the process.

To have real value to utility pipe network owners and operators the inspection has to be complemented by condition assessment by experienced professional engineers such as Downley Consultants. This process takes the inspection data alongside other data sources: the origin and operational history of the pipeline; analysis of the medium being carried –  hard or soft water, aggressive effluents, etc; and analysis of its environment – corrosive soil & ground water conditions; owner’s operational requirements, and more. We evaluate it to identify the condition of the pipe or network and the level of risk of a loss of performance or even a failure. And propose solutions, actions and budgets!