• Natural Disasters • Taxation framework • Asset Ownership and Valuation • Sources of Funding for Capital Projects • Climate Change • Emissions Trading Scheme • Resource consents Including the level of uncertainty, risk and financial impact for all Council activities are described in the Long Term Plan. Issues specific to water assets are described below or in greater detail elsewhere in the asset management plan. Pipe life expectancy is based on the NAMS Guidelines with the exception of asbestos cement which is based on the tables in the New Zealand Asbestos Cement Watermain Manual 2001. The life expectancy varies with the diameter of the pipe and the subsequent wall thickness. Life expectancy of the diameters has been capped at 100 years. Replacement of reticulation pipework will be with modern materials - PVC, polyethylene, ductile iron, steel or concrete. All plant and equipment will be replaced with modern equivalents. Pipe laying rates are inclusive of valves, fittings, apparatus and branch connections. The rates are an average across all ground conditions and depths and include for trench support and de- watering. The life expectancies that have been adopted suggest there is a significant amount of pipework that is beyond its theoretical life. This is particularly apparent for asbestos cement pipe in the Awatere. However there has not been an equivalent increase in mains bursts or repair activity. The Assets and Services department is actively considering a programme of pipe condition assessment in order to re-evaluate the life expectancy of these pipes under local conditions. Plant and equipment life expectancy assumes the continuation of the good standard of planned pre-emptive maintenance currently undertaken. The NAMS guidance on life expectancy has generally been followed unless there is clear local evidence to the contrary. Material Pipe Useful Life Material Pipe Useful Life Type Diameter Type Diameter AC 25 38 EW 77 AC 32 38 FT 100 AC 40 38 HEL 100 AC 50 38 MPVC 100 AC 75 43 NOF 60 AC 100 53 NOVA 100 AC 125 63 PE 100 100 AC 150 72 PE 80 100 AC 200 90 PVC 100 AC 250 98 RC 100 AC 300 100 SP 100 AC 375 100 ST 100 AC 225 100 ST-CC 100 Page 79