Evaluation of network assets: Preventive and objective management of underground pipes
Presented by Eau et Force
CONTEXT
Managing network assets is a major concern for Lyonnaise des Eaux. Pipe replacement is a significant part of outsourcing contracts and a major financial issue. Analysing these underground assets requires genuine competence so that replacement plans are developed objectively. Subsidiary Eau et Force has perfected an evaluation process based on precise criteria and an innovative diagnostic tool, allowing genuinely preventive network management.
INNOVATION
Sections are evaluated according to three principles. The first consists of determining their condition according to the frequency and seriousness of leaks as well as the structural condition of the pipes. Such analysis is made possible by an innovative corrosion-detection tool using the principle of Foucault currents. The second stage involves studying the section's environment and its propensity to make pipes more vulnerable. Finally, their influence on the continuity of consumer service is considered, depending on the size of the population serviced, the proportion of sensitive customers (hospitals etc.) and the number of leaks that led to interruptions in water supply.
RESULTS
Ninety measurements have been made in three months, clear evidence of the interest shown in this method. The City of Paris approved the 2006 Left Bank replacement plan proposed by Eau et Force. For Lyonnaise des Eaux as a whole, this method allows the company to offer objective analyses appreciated by customers and a commercial offering that sets it apart.
