DeKalb County shifts to risk-based plan to replace small-diameter water lines

DeKalb County commissioners heard a briefing on a new, risk‑based strategy to replace small‑diameter water lines during a meeting of the Public Works and Information/Infrastructure (PWI) Committee.

County presenters said the county has recorded roughly 8,000 water main breaks over the past eight years — about three breaks per day — and has spent about $142 million on water system recapitalization in the last five years. The county and its engineering partners said the current approach will shift from reacting to individual breaks toward an asset‑management program that packages neighborhood or corridor projects and prioritizes work by likelihood and consequence of failure.

The shift follows guidance from industry standards, including the American Water Works Association (AWWA) M77 approach to condition assessment and risk analysis, presenters said. “The break rates and what we see and feel on a daily basis is only one of the many components that we have or considerations in respect of the master planning,” said Shane, a watershed staff presenter. He told commissioners the county’s technical teams combine pipe condition, age, material and historical break rates with…