How many times have you heard, “The sewer and water pipes are nearing the end of their useful life”? Or seen decay curves that recommend repairs, rehabilitation, or renewal programs to reinvigorate networks for the next 100 years? Disruptive technologies are showing that pipe decay curves are not necessarily the best way to prioritize rehabilitation. In fact, new technologies are showing that poor installation and rehabilitation cause most pipe defects or failures. Confronted by the proverbial ‘pothole in the middle of the road,’ utilities are sometimes faced with repairing or replacing pipelines that were just renewed, representing a detour on the way to smart water sustainability. As industry insiders have long known, lenient inspection standards do not require pipes to be delivered as watertight. With many utilities allowing contractors and construction firms to selfcertify new and rehabilitated pipes based on guidelines established by pipe manufacturers and suppliers that sponsor accreditation programs, results can be questionable. Aided by machine-intelligent technologies, utilities are finding defects at joints and customer service connections – not pipe wall failures or fractures – that should have been addressed at installation, on pipes that senior managers might have seen installed or rehabilitated earlier in their careers. Several leading U.S. utilities are adopting machine-intelligent pipe investigation tools to assess new installations and rehabilitation. Representing a contradiction to long-held assumptions and beliefs, they often find pipes leaking more after rehabilitation than before rehabilitation. Changes in new pipe acceptance standards are paving the way to sustainable infrastructure.

Track 4: Changes in New Pipe Acceptance Standards are Paving
  the Way to Sustainable Infrastructure

To lean into ASCE’s sustainability efforts to mitigate environmental effects and use resources wisely, ASCE’s International Conferences on Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI) 2021 will be held as a virtual event. The dates of ICSI 2021 will be December 6-10th.

Powered by the ICSI Steering Committee based in Houston, the 2021 event will bring together leaders to discuss leveraging sustainable infrastructure for resilient communities.  The program will offer content from across the globe, but have several highlights on sustainability initiatives in Houston, Texas. We hope you will join us virtually for plenary sessions, technical discussions, along with opportunities for Q&A and networking, connecting with virtual exhibitors, and to earn professional development hours.  

[Paper Proceedings](https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784483879)

Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.26226/m.63208d58cb3e8e001271fcc3

Track 4: Changes in New Pipe Acceptance Standards are Paving the Way to Sustainable Infrastructure