Novi’s Most Critical Asset—Managed through Proactive Condition Assessment and Operational Determination

In 2019, the City of Novi (Novi) initiated a proactive management plan for nearly 6 mi of the Novi Road Water Transmission Main. Until recently, Novi had not performed any formal condition assessment and had limited knowledge of the pipeline's material composition, lifespan, and condition. The initial goal of assessing the water main was to conduct a comprehensive inspection, through evaluating inline valves, performing leak and air pocket detection, and conducting an electromagnetic structural assessment. A visual inspection, transient pressure monitoring, and a remaining useful life analysis were also employed for the structural evaluations. The full inspection scope could not be completed in 2019; however, several distressed pipes were identified. By early 2024, Novi had repaired four of the eight identified distressed pipes, and by mid-2024, it had completed the vast majority of the initial inspection scope. Following this, a condition assessment report was written to provide insight into the current and predicted condition of the Novi Road Water Transmission Main.