Capital Efficiency Plans™
At Tata & Howard, we believe it is essential to optimize “Capital Efficiency” – that is, identifying those areas of your water, stormwater, and wastewater systems needing rehabilitation, repair, or replacement that make the most efficient use of your limited infrastructure dollars.
Our Water and Wastewater Capital Efficiency Plan™ (CEP) methodology combines the concepts of hydraulic modeling, system criticality, and asset management into a single comprehensive report. Each report is customized to the individual utility distribution system. When completed, the CEP report provides utilities with a database and Geographic Information System (GIS) representation for each pipe segment within their underground piping system. The CEP report prioritizes system piping improvements and provides estimated costs for replacement and rehabilitation.
Our Three Circle Approach
Hydraulic Modeling
- Hydraulic model verification if available
- Compare flows with design carrying capacity
- Hydraulic deficiencies
- History of SSOs
- High infiltration/inflow rates
Critical Components
- Interceptors
- Trunk sewers and force mains
- Residential sewer mains
Asset Management
Establish score for each pipe segment based on the following:
- Blockages/collapse
- I/I rates
- Installation year
- Soil corrosivity
- PACP structural and maintenance ratings
- Other criteria
Value of CEP
Each system has unique characteristics and challenges that are discussed at our CEP workshop held with knowledgeable field staff and managers for each project. The workshops provide significant value by filling in data gaps, correcting incorrect records, and identifying specific issues and critical components that are custom to the system. The results of the workshop not only improve the asset data quality, but also improve the hydraulic model accuracy.
Our completed studies have been well received by many clients who have found our methodology not only practical and understandable, but also defendable when justifying projects and procuring funding. A comprehensive CEP places a utility in the advantageous position of having a prioritized list of logically thought out and justifiable infrastructure projects.
- Most efficient use of limited funds
- Can pay for itself with first project
- Approach tailored to each system
- Workshops close data gaps
- Increases customer satisfaction
