Hot Spot Analysis of Water Main Failures in California

The objectives of this study were to apply clustering analysis to identify abnormally high concentrations of water main failures (i.e., hot spots) for three selected service areas in California; perform multivariate linear regression for both the three hot spots and all main failures, taking into account pipe materials, diameter, hydraulic pressure, season, soil, length, air temperature, and water content; and compare major differences between the two regression results. Each case study site demonstrated unique failure mechanisms and spatial patterns. Selected pipe materials, season, diameter, and soil type demonstrated statistically significant effects on pipe longevity, accompanied by distinct characteristics for hot spots. This project lays the foundation for a standardized platform and approach to sustainable life cycle assessments for individual water infrastructure elements.