How Engineers Are Fighting America's Water Main Breaks

💧 H2O Intro 🔬 Meet Blen Jimma of WSSC Water

Every year, more than 260,000 water main breaks disrupt communities across the U.S. and Canada—putting public health and budgets at risk.

At WSSC Water in Maryland, Blen Jimma is tackling the problem head-on with a forensic engineering program that digs into the root causes of pipe failures. As a principal materials engineer, she’s using real-world failure data to challenge outdated models that rely solely on pipe age—and helping create smarter, data-driven decisions for pipe replacement and rehabilitation.

Blen’s work is reshaping how utilities understand infrastructure, optimize investments, and protect public health. And as a proud participant in the Transformative Water Leadership Academy, she’s proving that leadership doesn’t require a title—just vision, passion, and the drive to keep learning.

This was a conversation from the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C.

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