OptiRenewal

OptiRenewal is a software tool built around the OGA optimization technology for the programming and scheduling of pipe renewals programs. It reduces the amount of time to undertake a study while providing a better overall solution.

Pipe

OptiRenewal is applied to a utility’s hydraulic model, to search for a near-optimal replacement program. For each pipe reviewed, a decision is made as to replace or rehabilitate the pipe. In the case of replacement, the optimal pipe diameter, material, construction technique and proposed year of replacement is selected by OptiRenewal. OptiRenewal identifies the combination of replacement and rehabilitation decisions to minimize the net present value cost of the overall replacement program.

The cost of not replacing pipes, i.e. the risk associated with failure over the given planning period, is included in the optimization process. The solutions must result in a hydraulic network that satisfies customer demands for each staging period, while achieving service levels that meet minimum allowable pressure, maximum allowable velocity, and other specified constraints.

OptiRenewal is available for use in a consulting capacity or can be leased for in-house use by a water utility.

"Optimatics is one of the few clients which do meet deadlines. The project deliverables were right on the mark. There were a lot of good ideas generated during the project and rather than keep strictly to the scope, Optimatics helped us achieve the best outcomes for the project. They were very responsive to our requests and overall we were extremely happy with the outcomes from each of the six projects Optimatics completed for Ipswich Water during the past 12 months."

- Brett Carruthers, Ipswich Water

Wellspring of Opportunity

The US is looking to Australia for water management solutions, both technological and bureaucratic, writes Tracy Sutherland. California and Australia share a natural bounty of sun, sand,beaches and rich farm country but the American state has something else in common with Australia that is less publicised - drought.