Peter Buckland Hunter Water Corporation Over the last decade there has been a perception of higher financial risk for water authorities. This perception has arisen because much of the infrastructure (predominantly pipelines) for water and waste water services was put in place during the post war building booms and some pipelines are over 100 years old. Water authorities are capital intensive with significant capital committed to network assets (water distribution/reticulation pipes and sewer mains). Given the current age of the pipelines and the uncertainty about the life of pipelines under varying conditions, there is concern that water authorities may have to cope with escalating pipe failures, increasing capital expenditure and the subsequent unfavourable impact on customers. The paper covers an Australian contribution to an American Water and Waste Water Research Foundation project examining the financial implications of water main replacement. Download the complete story as a Word Document BACK TO