Mary Rhodes Pipeline Condition Assessment Receives Asset Management Project of the Year

Mary Rhodes Pipeline Condition Assessment Phase I (MRP) has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Asset Management Project of the Year at the annual Underground Infrastructure Conference in Houston. 

Sponsored by Underground Infrastructure magazine, the Underground Infrastructure Awards recognize outstanding performance and technology for the entire underground infrastructure industry. 

The 25-year-old Mary Rhodes Pipeline has had several leaks or failures since its inception and has a high consequence of failure due to its capacity, length and lack of redundancy. To better understand potential causes of historical failures, HDR’s work in the Mary Rhodes Pipeline Condition Assessment focused on performing a comprehensive assessment of the 101-mile pipeline and providing recommendations for maintaining the pipeline’s performance and reliability. The team utilized cutting-edge technology to evaluate the pipeline’s integrity, including internal assessment tools, aerial drone assessments, corrosivity testing, pump optimization and real-time monitoring at strategic points along the pipeline route.

“The MRP Phase I Condition Assessment project is a great example of bold thinking and collaborative effort between the owner, consultant, subconsultants, and stakeholders to achieve a common goal,” said Jerry Snead, South Central condition assessment lead at HDR. “The insights provided by the project have allowed the client to increase the pipeline pumping rate and deliver over 2.5 billion gallons of additional water to the city’s customers.”