Improving Asset Management

All utility assets, including sewer pipes, distribution lines, treatment equipment, and the plant itself, are on the clock. As time goes by, their efficacy (and thus usefulness) wanes, eventually reaching the point of replacement. Until then, we want to get the most out of our assets, balancing performance with the cost to repair or replace. Keys to striking this balance are condition assessment, O&M procedures (predictive maintenance vs. time-based preventive maintenance vs. reactive maintenance), and the optimization and protection of existing assets. Upfront purchasing decisions and the understanding of lifecycle costs are also vitally important. In these times of limited funding, we need both thoughtful and ‘smart’ (i.e., digital technology-enabled) asset management to ensure fiscally sound and environmentally responsible utility operations. Thus, utilities — as well as industrial facilities — should arm themselves with the latest technologies and techniques to keep systems online and effective for as long as possible. The articles in this e-book can help achieve this goal.