Development Of A Performance-Based Economic Lifecycle Model For Water Pipeline Infrastructure Systems

Water utilities are facing increasing costs associated with the management and renewal of the water pipelines. A water pipeline goes through various costs during its lifecycle and hence it becomes important to perform lifecycle economic costs analysis before choosing the water pipeline material for replacement. However, water pipeline materials vary in performance in different environmental conditions and hence the lifecycle costs can vary in different environmental conditions. This study focuses on developing a performance-based water pipeline lifecycle cost analysis model to help in replacement decisions. Different scenarios have been developed based on the varying performance of different pipeline materials in different ecological cohorts and the lifecycle costs will be compared in those scenarios to present as alternatives to help in replacement decision making for water utilities. The proposed model will be more comprehensive, in terms of parameters included to more accurately reflect the lifecycle costs associated with different scenarios and materials. Different approaches will be explored to capture parameters affecting lifecycle costs comprehensively along with the uncertainties in the lifecycle cost assessment process.