Evaluation of performance of pvc and acp pipes based on environmental factors at water distribution networks

Performance of PVC and ACP pipes providing service at Water Distribution Network (WDN) varies according to many factors. In this study, evaluating and analyzing of performance of ACP and PVC pipes based on various factors was aimed. For this aim, Malatya WDN was selected as study area. The failure records occurred at PVC and ACP pipes at Malatya WDN between years 2006-2016 were considered. In analyzing of factors that cause these failures at WDNs, physical factors (e.g. pipe diameter, pipe age, pipe length), environmental factors (e.g. soil type and geological feature of region, maximum and minimum temperatures) and operational factors (water consumption characteristics and water interruption) were taken into account. Moreover, the spatial and temporal changing of failures were analyzed. In addition, multi-criteria decision analysis method, called Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), was used to evaluate the ACP and PVC pipes as structural conditions. The scores for ACP and PVC pipes selected at study are were calculated by AHP method using factors such as physical, environmental and operational factors and performance of pipes were analyzed and evaluated.