Minnetonka, MN Pilots Acoustic Pipe Assessment Prior To Road Resurfacing

The City of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a Minneapolis/Saint Paul suburb, faced a critical decision regarding a two-mile section of its aging 18-inch trunk water main along Excelsior Boulevard. The road was scheduled for resurfacing, which would trigger a 20-year moratorium on significant utility work. With the main having experienced four failures in the past five years and much of the city's network nearing the end of its design life, the City needed an accurate picture of the pipe's condition before committing to costly replacement or delaying work for two decades.

To make an informed decision, the City used acoustic pipe assessment technology (ePulse) to measure the remaining wall thickness of the ductile iron main without excavation or interrupting service. The assessment of 12,500 feet of pipe found that 44% of tested segments were in good condition (less than 10% wall thickness loss) and 47% were in moderate condition (10-30% loss). No segments were found to be in poor condition, and no leaks were detected. This non-invasive data allowed the City to confidently prioritize renewal projects, tailor its approach to the actual pipe condition, and plan for the future under the county's moratorium.