What type of maintenance is vital for prolonging the life of valves in a water system?

Periodic exercising of valves is essential for prolonging the life of valves in a water distribution system. Exercising valves involves regularly opening and closing them to ensure they operate smoothly and to prevent them from seizing or sticking due to non-use or environmental factors. This practice helps to check their functionality, prevents corrosion, and identifies any deterioration or mechanical failures early on, minimizing the risk of significant problems in the long term.

Additionally, regularly exercising valves allows operators to familiarize themselves with the equipment and confirm that it is in good working condition. This is critical in ensuring that valves can be relied upon during emergency situations or routine system operations, thus maintaining system reliability and efficiency. Other maintenance practices, while important, do not address the issue of ensuring valves remain functional over time in the same proactive manner that periodic exercising does.