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Needs studies indicate that a large capital investment isrequired to renew an aging inventory of U.S. water distributionsystems. However, the institutional structure of distributionsystem management does not encourage large investments forrenewal. To overcome this obstacle, utilities must use effectivetools and methods for asset management, which the authordefines in this article as "an information-based process usedfor life-cycle facility management across organizations."A framework is presented for condition assessment, whichutilities can use to assess their responsibilities and options fordistribution system capital management. The proposed frameworkincludes four levels (system goals and criteria, condition indicators,integrated system parameters, and decisions relying onsystem parameters) and uses nine basic condition indicators:three for the capital side and six for operations.The article also includes a review of distribution system needs,a list of the main activities of asset management, a synthesis ofprioritization and condition assessment techniques, and a reviewof renewal technologies, and examples of how leading utilitiesare handling assessment and renewal activities today. Includes 61 references, tables, figures.

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Edition: Vol. 97 - No. 2 Published: 02/01/2005 Number of Pages: 11 File Size: 1 file , 710 KB