Procedure for Estimating Surface‐Water Intake Costs

Previously developed cost estimating procedures for surface‐water intakes have been based primarily on a simple correlation of intake cost with one design parameter (e.g., design flow or total system cost). The cost estimating procedures presented in this paper correlate intake cost with a number of system components such as pipeline type and length (subaqueous or bridge‐supported), bridge type (pedestrian or vehicle), and pumping requirements (pumps and pump housing). Capital and operation and maintenance costs are determined for two types of intake structures: (1) Submerged; and (2) exposed tower. Costs generated by this procedure are compared with actual project costs. The average absolute value percent error in comparing these costs is 13.9 with a range of 1.3%–26.8%. This procedure is also compared to existing cost estimating methodologies. Costs derived by the procedure presented in this paper are believed to be more accurate due to the consideration of several site‐specific variables.