Development of a Maintenance Management Model to Improve the Availability Performance of Water Pumping Systems: A Case of Dodoma Urban Water Supply Authority

Ntambi John Dawa; Fredrick Sanga

doi:10.37284/eaje.8.2.3793

Ntambi John Dawa Dodoma Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority
Fredrick Sanga, PhD Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/eaje.8.2.3793

Keywords: Maintenance Management, Water Pumping Systems, System Availability, Multiple Regression Analysis, Predictive Maintenance, Tanzania

Share Article:

Abstract

The Dodoma Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DUWASA) faces critical maintenance challenges in efficiently managing water pumping systems across the region, resulting in reactive maintenance decisions that reduce system availability to 65% compared to the industry standard of 95% (World Bank, 2023). This study developed a comprehensive maintenance management model to address optimal resource distribution and enhance water pumping system availability through evidence-based decision-making frameworks (Ahmad & Kamaruddin, 2012). The research employed a mixed-methods design utilising stratified random sampling of 65 pumping systems from 77 total systems across multiple operational zones. Comprehensive data collection involved questionnaires, structured interviews, data logger monitoring, and detailed system condition assessments focusing on seven critical parameters: ambient temperature variations, voltage fluctuations, equipment age, water mineral content (salinity), availability of spare parts, suspension system failures, and seasonal changes in water levels (Kiliç et al., 2017). Relative Importance Index (RII) analysis revealed ambient temperature variations as the most significant factor (RII = 0.874), followed by voltage fluctuations (RII = 0.846) and water mineral content (RII = 0.837). Multiple regression analysis generated a robust predictive model with strong statistical performance (R² = 0.699), indicating that the seven technical factors explain approximately 70% of system availability performance variance (Sharma & Srivastava, 2018). The resulting regression equation: Water Pumping System Availability = 0.990 - 0.220(Ambient Temperature) - 0.010(Voltage Fluctuations) - 0.410(Equipment Age) - 0.110(Water Mineral Content) + 0.210(Spare Parts Availability) + 0.670(Suspension System Management) + 0.080(Seasonal Water Level Management) provides a quantitative framework for maintenance decision-making. The developed Water Pumping System Maintenance Management Model (WPSMM) represents a computerised application featuring system inventory management, condition monitoring protocols, maintenance team coordination, and performance monitoring capabilities (Poór et al., 2020). System validation across 12 months of operational data demonstrated effective performance prediction with an overall accuracy of 89.48% compared to the actual availability of 90%, confirming the model's practical applicability. This research contributes a context-specific, resource-constraint-aware maintenance framework that enables evidence-based maintenance decisions, facilitating the transition from reactive to proactive maintenance practices while enhancing system availability, extending asset life, and providing a replicable model for similar water utilities in developing countries (Pathirana et al., 2021).

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmad, R., & Kamaruddin, S. (2012). An overview of time-based and condition-based maintenance in industrial applications. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 63(1), 135-149.

Aivazidou, E., & Tsolakis, N. (2023). Water Management and Environmental Engineering: Current Practices and Opportunities. Water, 15(11), 11944.

Benfer, M., & Gottuk, D. (2014). Electrical Receptacles—Overheating, Arcing, and Melting. Fire Safety Science, 11, 1010–1023.

Botros, K. K. (2011). Spring Stiffness Selection Criteria for Nozzle Check Valves Employed in Compressor Stations. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 133(12), 122401.

Cozza, A. (2021). Understanding the Apparently Poor Conductivity of Galvanized Steel Plates. IEEE Access, 9, 146625–146639.

DUWASA. (2021). Water Utilities Performance Review Report For FY 2019/20. Regional And National Project Water Utilities.

Dudlik, A., Schönfeld, S. B. H., Hagemann, O., & Fahlenkamp, H. (2022). Water hammer and cavitational hammer in process plant pipe systems. Kerntechnik, 68(3), 91–96.

Fecher, B., Kahn, R., Sokolovska, N., Völker, T., & Nebe, P. (2021). Making a research infrastructure: conditions and strategies to transform a service into an infrastructure. Science and Public Policy, 48(4), 499-507.

Gao, W.-S., Gui, J.-F., Jiao, C.-P., & Tan, K.-X. (2002). Distortion caused by partial discharge propagation along the power transformer winding. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 9(4), 540-545.

Geisbush, J., & Ariaratnam, S. T. (2023). Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM): Literature review of current industry state of practice. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 29(2), 313–337.

Hadžić, E., Milišić, H., & Šuvalija, S. (2022). Water Resources Management In Urban Areas. International Conference on Smart City Applications, 16, 245-258.

Herb, J., & Piljugin, E. (2011). Failure mode and effect analysis of cable failures in the context of a fire PSA. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 241(8), 3190-3195.

Howard, G., Calow, R., Macdonald, A., & Bartram, J. (2016). Climate Change and Water and Sanitation: Likely Impacts and Emerging Trends for Action. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 41(1), 253–276.

Ildstad, E., & Hagen, S. T. (1992). Electrical treeing and breakdown of mechanically strained XLPE cable insulation. Conference Record of the 1992 IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation, 135–139.

Kiliç, R., Kozan, R., Karayel, D., & Özkan, S. (2017). Application of predictive maintenance system in drinking water pumping stations. Acta Physica Polonica A, 132(3), 1016-1021.

Krishnan, S., Krishnan, S. A., & Kumar, R. (2024). Sustainable Development Goals and Water Infrastructure Management. Journal of Sustainable Development, 17(3), 45-62.

Mahadeva, D. V., Baker, R. C., & Woodhouse, J. (2008). Studies of the Accuracy of Clamp-on Transit Time Ultrasonic Flowmeters. 2008 IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, 969–973.

Masanja, F. G. (2023). Technical Challenges Facing Water Users in Accessing Water Services from the Public Water Supply Authority in Dodoma City, Tanzania. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 21(3), 163–174.

Mutikanga, H. E., Sharma, S., & Vairavamoorthy, K. (2009). Water loss management in developing countries: Challenges and prospects. Journal AWWA, 101(12), 57–68.

Naguib, A. H., Razik, M. H. A., Fergala, M. A., & Elagroudy, S. A. (2019). Reliability of Water Distribution Networks. International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology, 8(8), 304-312.

Ngunula, P. R. (2023). Factors Affecting the Performance of Community-Based Water Supply Organizations in Katavi Region. The Open University of Tanzania, Doctoral Dissertation.

Pakale, S. (2015). Causes of Coupling Failures and Preventive Actions. Mechanical Engineering International Journal, 12(4), 78-85.

Pathirana, A., Heijer, F. d., & Sayers, P. B. (2021). Water infrastructure asset management is evolving. Infrastructures, 6(6), 90.

Picazo, M. Á. P., & Tekinerdogan, B. (2024). Urban water distribution networks: Challenges and solution directions. In Management and Engineering of Critical Infrastructures (pp. 245-264). Elsevier.

Poór, P., Trstenjak, M., & Basl, J. (2020). Maintenance Ideal Model in Industry 4.0 – A Transformation Strategy Roadmap to Readiness Factor Calculation. Trends in Management and Economics, 642–648.

Ruijs, E., Jiang, X., Negenborn, R. R., & Park, T. (2022). Automatic failure diagnosis for flow control valves. In Trends in Maritime Technology and Engineering Volume 1 (pp. 593–599). CRC Press.

Sharma, K. D., & Srivastava, S. (2018). Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) Implementation: A Literature Review. Journal of Quality and Reliability Engineering, 15(2), 123-145.

Tanzania Ministry of Water. (2022). Annual Performance Report of Urban Water Supply Authorities. Government Printer, Dodoma.

Thitithanyanont, N. (2001). Investigation of best practices in water utility management systems in the USA. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master's Thesis.

Tsakiris, G., Vangelis, H., Tigkas, D., Stathaki, A., Sofotasios, D., Toprak, S., Cem Koç, A., Güngör, M., Kaya, M., & De Angelis, E. (2011). Urban water distribution systems: Preventive maintenance. Water Utility Journal, 1, 41-48.

Waeyenbergh, G., & Pintelon, L. (2002). A framework for maintenance concept development. International Journal of Production Economics, 77(3), 299–313.

World Bank. (2023). Water Utility Performance in Developing Countries: Technical Report. World Bank Group, Washington, DC.

Zi̇Le, M. (2020). Analysis of the Failures in Power Transformers. Aksaray University Journal of Science and Engineering, 4(1), 19–29.