Reserve Study Item

My condominium's infrastructure is about 25 years old. The condo is responsible for the water supply piping in the walls and buried underground. In the walls it is mostly copper piping, probably per code. Underground it is mostly PVC. In my experience, such piping lasts 50+ years, apart from the random break here and there. The condo has had the random break here and there. The breaks are not increasing in frequency and are rare. The water is not acidic. The Reserve Studies done to date have never included replacement of the water supply piping. Now the board is saying both the PVC and copper pipes are at the end of life, due to a recent failure. The Board is arguing for a substantial assessment increase to pay for replacement over several years. I have recommended consulting an outside expert and the Reserve Study company. If you are a condominium member, or otherwise experienced with the aging of copper and PVC pipe, can you please share whether your most recent Reserve Study considered water supply pipe replacement and any other thoughts?

At the very least, there should have been money set aside in the study for breaks

Studies that don't include all capital components or are under funded can result in special assessments.

I offer the following:

Types of Plumbing Pipes and Their Lifespans

Copper Tube Handbook - Industry Standard Guide for the Design and Installation of Copper Piping Systems

Hi Melissa, I feel I understand the principles behind reserve funding. What had me wondering was why the prior Reserve Studies never included the water pipe. KerryL1's explanation for the latter is consistent with what I am finding on the net.

TimB4, setting aside money for the random break makes sense and is what I am going to recommend, as a Member. Thanks for the links. They are backing up what I am finding about the expected life.

KerryL1, thanks for sharing your experience. It is super helpful. I read other condominiums' Reserve Studies, that my HOA's reserve study company had also completed. The studies consistently say what you do: When the expected life is super long, like more than 30+ years, the component is often ignored. In one of their studies they did recommend getting input from a local professional for the water pipes, just as you did, at some point.

Do you know what the cost for the coating of the copper pipe was? Is it a per foot charge? I have not heard of condo units where I live experiencing pinhole leaks. Still, the Board is talking about coating the insides of the copper pipe.

Here's a site that reinforces Kerry's statements: http://mccafferyreserveconsulting.com/should-plumbing-and-pipes-be-included-in-a-reserve-study/

If my HOA's Board insists on raising the assessment for this particular reserve component, I won't argue, because there are two other reserve components, of a similar cost (roofs and roads) that I think they are neglecting.

I know there is no exactness to all this. The point is to stay financially healthy and not have to suddenly impose a large, one-time special assessment.