Defect Catalogs In A Changing Wastewater Industry

Choosing or changing a defect catalog can have far-reaching implications for regional infrastructure. A smart approach to standardization increases efficiency and reliability and allows an organization to plan and strategize for the future—rather than respond to crises as they occur.

Today there are many different standardization systems available, but two dominate much of the international market. The first real defect catalog came from the UK-based Water Research Centre (WRc). In the 1980s, it introduced the Manual of Sewer Condition Classification (MSCC), a national standard defect coding system for the country’s varied underground water infrastructure. It outlined a shared language for contractors, maintenance teams and municipal leadership to ensure consistency and mutual understanding. The system specified abbreviations and designations for various kinds of damage and maintenance problems, from grease buildup to collapses. Each inspected section of pipe was scored from 1 (no defects) to 5 (collapsed section or collapse imminent) based on defect severity.