Asbestos cement (AC) pipes were installed across North America from the 1940s to 1960s and today represent one of the highest-risk materials in water distribution networks. With more than 40% of AC pipes in places like California and Nevada now over 50 years old, utilities face a growing challenge: how to prioritize pipeline renewal with limited budgets, without waiting for failures.  Acoustic condition assessment is emerging as one of the most effective strategies to meet that challenge.