ISO 24516-1:2016

Overview

ISO 24516-1:2016 - Guidelines for the management of assets of water supply and wastewater systems - Part 1: Drinking water distribution networks - provides practical guidance for the technical management of assets in drinking water distribution networks. The standard specifies tools, principles and good-practice approaches to help utilities maintain value from existing network assets over multi-generational planning horizons. It focuses on assets typically owned or operated by drinking water utilities and does not cover management of waterworks (catchment, treatment, pumping and storage), even though those components can influence network asset management.

Key technical topics and requirements

ISO 24516-1:2016 addresses asset management across strategic, tactical and operational levels, emphasizing lifecycle, risk and performance considerations. Major topics include:

• Objectives, functional and performance requirements for drinking water networks
• Risk and life-cycle aspects for prioritizing interventions and funding
• Investigation: data collection, inventory, failure and condition data, geo-referencing
• Assessment: hydraulic, structural and operational performance evaluation against requirements
• Planning: development and assessment of integrated solutions and action plans
• Implementation: creating/updating plans, carrying out work, monitoring and performance review
• Operation & maintenance: operational procedures and maintenance planning
• Rehabilitation: strategic, tactical and operational rehabilitation planning, budgeting and prioritization
• Documentation and efficiency review to support continuous improvement

The standard includes informative annexes with examples on service life, failure rates and risk considerations, and is applicable to utilities of all sizes and organizational roles (asset owners, asset managers, operators, service providers).

Practical applications

ISO 24516-1:2016 is used to:

• Develop or improve asset management plans for distribution mains, valves, fittings and appurtenances
• Structure condition assessment programs and data systems (inventory, failure records, GIS)
• Establish risk-based prioritization for rehabilitation and replacement projects
• Align performance monitoring (hydraulic and service quality) with customer expectations
• Support long-term budgeting and lifecycle planning for multi-generational infrastructure

Who should use this standard

• Drinking water utilities and municipal water departments
• Asset and network managers, operations and maintenance teams
• Engineering consultants and contractors working on water networks
• Regulators and policymakers seeking consistent guidance for network performance and risk management

Related standards

• Other parts of the ISO 24516 series (see ISO website for list)
• Complementary asset-management frameworks such as the ISO 55000 family (asset management principles)

ISO 24516-1:2016 is a practical, technical reference to help drinking water utilities improve the reliability, safety and cost-effectiveness of distribution networks through structured investigation, assessment, planning and rehabilitation.