Linear Systems Integrity Program Receives Asset Management Project of the Year

Great Lakes Water Authority’s Linear System Integrity Program has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Asset Management Project of the Year during the annual Underground Infrastructure Conference in Oklahoma City. 

Sponsored by Underground Infrastructure magazine, the Underground Infrastructure Awards recognize outstanding performance and technology for the entire underground infrastructure industry. 

HDR’s work in the Linear System Integrity Program focuses on providing various professional services for the condition assessment and management of approximately 800 miles of large-diameter transmission mains that deliver water from GLWA’s five water treatment facilities. GLWA operates one of the largest municipal utility systems in the United States, serving nearly four million residents in eight Michigan counties. It maintains more than 400 miles of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe, which typically fails catastrophically, making assessment and renewal of these mains a high priority. The average age of the mains in their system is approximately 70 years, with some pipes installed over 100 years ago. This six-year program will inspect approximately 110 miles of PCCP transmission mains between 2021 and 2027.

“The LSIP is a critical program for GLWA, who strive to be industry leaders in asset resiliency and reliability,” said Susan Donnally, East region condition assessment lead at HDR. “They have embraced a strong program structure that allows them to effectively manage their vast and complex linear system, using a smart combination of tried-and-true techniques, as well as state-of-the-art technologies.”