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Tokyo Metropolitan Sewage Service Corporation, Sasha Koo-Oshima
and Steve Allbee from EPA.
Laurel – October 26, 2011: The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) hosted Kenzo Sato from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government today to share information about the WSSC water and wastewater Asset Management Program.
“Sharing methods for improving similar systems, even from half –way around the world, enhances our capabilities to manage and rehabilitate our aging infrastructure,” said Thais Vitagliano, WSSC Asset Management Program Manager. “We were delighted to trade ideas with Sato and our colleagues from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I hope we are able to establish working relationships with many other like-minded agencies to discover ways to meet the challenges of aging water and wastewater infrastructure both nationally and globally.”
As WSSC moves toward 100 years of service, it is faced with aging (deteriorating) pipes and valves. Nearly 26% of WSSC water mains are more than 50 years-old. Approximately 35% of mains are 31 - 50 years-old. Tokyo, Japan has a similarly aged system, established in 1898 as one of the largest in the world, serving 13 million people.
The Asset Management Program (AMP) is a multi-year effort to create an organization-wide Asset Management Plan which identifies the infrastructure needs for a 30-year planning period. This information will help inform and develop 10-year Fiscal Plans.
For more information on about WSSC’s Aging Infrastructure or Frequently Asked Questions About Aging Infrastructure.
WSSC Water is the proud provider of safe, seamless and satisfying water services, making the essential possible every day for our neighbors in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. We work to deliver our best because it’s what our customers expect and deserve.