CCWI2017: F144 'Design of an Observational Study for Investigating the Impact of Pressure Transients on Pipe Failures in Water Supply Networks'

A system-wide investigation into the impact of quasi-steady and unsteady state pressure variations on the structural degradation and ultimate failure of pipes is critical for prioritising operational and capital expenditures. Such investigations rely upon an optimally designed observational study and the availability of metrics, which accurately capture the physical phenomena. The objective of this paper is to explore advances in causal inference and statistical methods in order to develop a sampling survey methodology that is required to differentiate the impact of pressure variations and transients, and other causal factors on pipe deterioration and failures.