分析供水系统的可靠性是确定供水公司打算为其客户提供的服务水平的重要方法。此外，它还为有关未来扩展和改进的决策提供了基础。本文给出了一个应用于供水系统的可靠性分析示例，并描述了科罗拉多州博尔德市如何利用该分析确定供水系统改进的必要性和优先级。例如，博尔德市认定其较旧的原水管道的潜在故障是对系统可靠性的最严重威胁；更换至少一条管道成为改善水系统的最高优先事项。还包括可靠性标准的定义（公众要求的服务可靠性程度）以及如何建立这些标准。包括3个参考文献、表格和图表。

Analyzing water system reliability is an important way to define the level of service that the water utility intends to provide its customers. In addition, it provides a basis for decisions regarding future expansions and improvements. This article presents an example a reliability analysis applied to a water delivery system and describes how the City of Boulder, Colorado, used this analysis to determine the need for and priority of water system improvements. For example, the City of Boulder determined that the potential failure of its older raw water pipes was the most serious threat to the reliability of the system; replacement of at least one of the pipelines became the highest-priority item for improving the water system. Also included is a definition of reliability criteria (the degree of service reliability demanded by the public) and how to establish them. Includes 3 references, tables, figure.