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In November 2004, the Wilmington Department of Public Works started a valve inspection,exercising and data collection program in the City of Wilmington, Delaware as part of a waterdistribution network improvement initiative. Fewer than 38% of the 6,500 valves in the citywere operable at the beginning of the program. As the result of the valve exercising program,the valve operability has increased to 80% and is expected to rise further by the end of theReopening the valves improved water quality, service pressure and fire flow in the citydistribution network.Approximately 7% of valve access boxes in the city were found paved-over. To preventfuture paving-over of valve access boxes, the city and the Delaware Department ofTransportation (DelDOT) have agreed to a closer coordination of road construction andpavement restoration work near existing water mains.GPS mapping of valves was a key aspect of the program. The GPS mapping data were usedfor calibrating the water distribution layer of the city GIS system.The valve exercising program increased the operator confidence in performing water mainshutdowns for emergency water main repairs and construction work. Because of the doublefold increase in valve operability, emergency water main shutdown in the city is performed ina shorter time period, resulting in reduced water loss and potential damage to surroundinginfrastructure from main break incidents.The Wilmington Department of Public Works is starting another multi-year program forexercising hydrant isolation valves and flow testing fire hydrants because of the significantbenefits the valve exercising program has provided to the city. Includes tables, figure.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 11/01/2008 Number of Pages: 36File Size: 1 file , 1.7 MB