Abstract

Spatial analysis of failure data from Dutch water companies
Track: Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater
Authors: Bernard Raterman, Kim Daal

Failures of water mains can result in unwanted effects but also offer a great opportunity to obtain network information. As low failure frequencies prevail within the Dutch water utilities, limited knowledge can be derived from the individual failure occurrences. One way to overcome this problem is by sharing failure information between water utilities. In the Netherlands, a system has been developed to enable uniform failure registration and an exchange of information between water companies.

Spatial analysis of these failure data can reveal relationships between asset failures and environmental factors such as soil characteristics. The KWR Watercycle Research Institute investigated the failure databases of five Dutch Water Companies . The databases' values were considered separately as well as combined to determine whether there is a relationship between the failures and environmental factors.

This knowledge can help determine the condition of the distribution network and help improve the registration system.