Ensuring the reliability of the water piping of the Moscow water supply system

The article describes the results of the investigation work carried out by Mosvodokanal Public Enterprise on improving the reliability of the water distribution pipelines in the city of Moscow. In recent years in Moscow there has been serious concern with regard to the reliability of its water supply network. This was caused by insufficient attention paid during the time of the former USSR to reliability and the operating conditions while designing and constructing the system as well as a period of increased rate of wear to the water pipes and insufficient financial resources for repairing the systems.

The decrease in average daily supply, increasing capacities of the water pipelines, pumping stations and the cleanwells caused a whole series of technical problems. These included a reduction in water velocity, the formation of stagnant sections, slowdown of water renewal, and deterioration of water quality in the distribution system. This caused considerable difficulties and led to higher costs for the operation of the city water supply system.

This article describes practical methods for preventing the unsatisfactory situation brought on by the decreased water consumption in Moscow. It describes the software used to evaluate water pipeline reliability and to plan the rehabilitation and renewal of the water supply system.