Performance assessment of Swedish sewer pipe networks using pipe blockage and other associated performance indicators

• Sewer pipe networks are expected to operate with minimal or no interruptions. The complex nature of randomlyoccurring failures in sewer networks arising from blockages significantly adds to the cost of operation and maintenance.Blockages are significant due to sewage backup or basements flooding, resulting from theiroccurrence. Therefore, continuous performance assessment of sewer pipe networks is necessary to ensurerequired levels of service at an acceptable cost. This study provides insight into the performance of the sewerpipe networks by assessing the proneness of the network to blockages. Furthermore it draws inferences at a holisticstrategic level of influential explanatory factors of blockage proneness, using data available in the SwedishWater and Wastewater Association’s benchmarking system. Results indicate that medium sized municipalitiesare prone to at least 30% more blockages per km per year compared to other municipalities. A hypothesis ofexplanatory factors includes reduced flow volumes and flow depth. Flow velocities below self-cleaning velocityin sewer pipe networks, encouraged by sluggishness of flow are responsible for increased possibility for sedimentdeposition and accumulation in sewers leading to blockages. This is also exacerbated by the deposition of nondisposables(wet wipes, baby diapers, hard paper, etc.), accumulation of fats, oils and grease in sewers andincreased water conservation measures.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Vattenteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Water Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

benchmarking

wastewater

VA-teknik

Urban Water Engineering

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)