PipeDiver Ultra XL: An Easier Way to Collect Big Data on Big Pipes

The largest pipelines in a water network are often the most critical. However, they can also be the most difficult to inspect. Until recently, utilities had to shut down and fully dewater their large, metallic pipelines for inspection. These inspections could easily put the main out of service for weeks. Today, many utilities lack actionable condition data on their most critical metallic pipelines due to the difficulty of assessing these buried assets.

More than half of North America’s water pipelines are metallic — ductile iron, cast iron, or steel. These pipes are some of the oldest in the ground, with many nearing the end of their design life. Despite their age, Xylem’s inspection data shows that most corrosion is localized and manageable with planned and targeted repairs.