Water pipeline design requires a thoughtful, forward-thinking mindset that accounts for a community’s needs, local landmarks, available land and more.
For example, where does a water supply pipeline go from start to finish? How can the decision-makers at a wastewater treatment plant stay aware of current requirements while future-proofing the facility to account for population growth and environmental regulations?
Consider artificial intelligence
People who determined wastewater piping choices and wastewater pipeline design decades ago had to rely mostly on personal experience, peer advice and best practices. Those resources still apply. However, exploring options like artificial intelligence (AI) platforms is now more common.
In one instance, municipal professionals from Newburgh, Indiana, used AI to streamline a time-intensive pipeline assessment process. Officials recognized the need for a system to verify pipes’ current conditions and deterioration rates. Relatedly, they knew their approach to using data had problematic shortcomings.
Since the relevant information encompassed thousands of documents and tens of thousands of spreadsheet lines, it was too extensive for humans to decipher without help.
The typical way of inspecting sewer pipelines involves someone operating a camera that takes footage as it moves. However, issues can also arise when it’s time to analyze what the data shows. Each identified defect receives a specific code, but disagreements can occur when people weigh in on a pipe’s state or how long it’ll last. However, artificial intelligence can increase objectivity.
Those in Newburgh overseeing this project submitted 40,000 feet worth of camera footage from inside a sewer pipeline to a company specializing in AI technology. The system provides longitudinal and perpendicular views. It also offers geographic information system (GIS) outputs that can feed into a city’s GIS system.
People could see details like a pipe’s size and material and the specific location of defects. Additionally, the AI system provides thousands of photos per data set, giving officials the details they need to act.
Professionals considering artificial intelligence for wastewater pipeline design must remember that the technology does not replace human input. However, it can help people pull meaningful information from data much faster.
Digital twins for pipeline design challenges
One of the daunting realities of constructing or remodeling a water supply pipeline is that people must address so many interconnected parts. A relatively small error could cause ripple effects that adversely affect many other areas. Even worse, some mistakes may only appear long after completing a project.
In one example, nearly 150,000 Jackson, Mississippi, residents had no fresh tap water for weeks at a time throughout 2021 and 2022. The water security problems have been ongoing, and practical barriers and political friction worsen them.
However, decision-makers have recently committed to positive changes by using digital twins to target problem areas. A digital twin can collect and analyze data about a physical asset’s performance. However, people also use them when building new facilities or upgrading existing ones.
Officials in Jackson chose Autodesk software to meet their digital twin needs.
The Jackson project involved importing data for about 843 miles of piping and 17 pumps. Moreover, the software contained asset specifications, including flow rates and the pipes’ age, elevation and diameter. IoT sensors also streamed live data as the system operated.
Succeeding with water pipeline design means proactively minimizing unwanted outcomes. For example, statistics indicate 50% of an excavator’s ownership costs relate to its undercarriage. Checking that area for faults is vital before buying a used one. When upgrading wastewater piping, a digital twin can prevent people from hitting pipes and causing sewage spillage.
Pay attention to pipe types and paths
Making appropriate decisions regarding wastewater pipeline design means knowing which options exist and are most suitable for a facility’s needs. People selecting pipe options must consider geologic factors, safety needs, corrosion risks and the organization’s budget. They also need to weigh factors such as the soil and groundwater chemistry and the necessary pipe strength.
Concrete pipes are widely available and offer excellent corrosion resistance. However, hydrogen sulfide and acid exposure can break down uncoated concrete pipes. Conversely, vitrified clay pipes are strong and tolerate most acids, although they are often time-consuming to install due to the risk of cracking from brittleness. The need for numerous joints raises the infiltration risk and could increase the installation budget.
These specifics are strong reminders that people must choose carefully and only after evaluating all relevant factors. Verify whether issues occurred with existing pipes. If so, people must dig deeper to confirm why. Water pipeline design also entails determining what happens to liquid going through each line. That may seem like foundational information to obtain but, surprisingly, it’s often overlooked.
Critics have slammed San Francisco’s recycled water pipeline for not becoming the functional system planners envisioned when it was approved more than three decades ago. Legislators intended for purple pipes to transport water from a recycling plant. The goal was to have wastewater tested, treated and rechecked, then returned to the source for nonpotable reuse.
The city has over 70 structures with dual-plumbing systems to separate potable and recycled water. However, all but one of the purple pipes lead nowhere. Plus, a recycled water plant set to open soon will only cater to golf courses and parks.
Adapt wastewater pipeline design to permitting
It’s always advisable to have a well-defined plan for handling a wastewater pipeline project before starting it. However, people must remain aware that permit-related specifics could cause unpredictable circumstances. That doesn’t mean the initial plans were poorly evaluated, but it’s not easy to anticipate how the local approval process will proceed.
In one example from Springfield, Massachusetts, designers, construction managers and others had input for handling a project associated with the York Street Pump Station and Connecticut River Crossing. One decision-maker suggested using pipe jacking to create three new wastewater conveyance pipelines at the pump station. They would go under a flood wall and railroad, cross the river and go through a levee before ending up at a treatment facility in Agawam, Massachusetts.
However, that plan fell apart when permitting authorities ruled it would require a receiving pit on a river from a barge. People working on the project decided it would be too difficult to comply, especially given the low water levels at the time.
Representatives from a tunneling contractor suggested abandoning the pipe-jacking idea. They suggested using longer tunnels to enable a microtunnel boring machine to drill underground through the riverbed slope and eliminate a receiving pit.
The team proceeded with this option, as it required less preparatory work than pipe jacking and reduced the risks posed to nearby critical infrastructure. Estimates also suggest the completed pump station will cause a 100-million-gallon-per-year reduction in combined sewage overflow events, with 100 fewer discharge instances annually. Those improvements will bring environmental benefits, particularly by preventing discharges into the river during severe weather.
Being as flexible as possible during all phases of water pipeline design and remaining open to new ideas will ensure everyone can provide input that’s heard and genuinely considered.
Permitting challenges can occur, despite the best preventive measures from all involved parties. However, being ready to respond to them positively will benefit the project.
Working on a water supply pipeline requires foresight, teamwork
Whether those working on a water pipeline design project are building the structure from scratch or making much-needed improvements to the infrastructure, this overview of important factors to consider will help projects go more smoothly.
No matter the scope or budget, it’s always wise to consider potential obstacles and listen to insights from various parties.
