One in 9 people all over the world do not have access to drinking water. (Source: World Finance)

However, it seems the world just can’t get enough of water. Global water demand is projected to increase 55 percent by 2050. Most of the demand will be driven by the agriculture industry, which currently makes up 70 percent of freshwater consumption, but is projected to grow another 69 percent to meet the food demands of the growing population. New-growth industries will put additional pressure on freshwater supplies. For example, water used to cool power stations is projected to increase by more than 20 percent by 2055 and water demand from the manufacturing industry in developing nations will grow by 400 percent by 2055. Unfortunately, 97.5 percent of earth’s surface water is inadequate for human use.

The growing demand is putting heavy pressure on current water supplies that appear to be shrinking due to global warming and climate change. As a result, there have been extensive efforts by individuals and households to conserve and recycle water. However, in major cities around the world, water is wasted before it even reaches people’s taps.

Water leaking through the cracks

In the U.S., about 2.1 trillion gallons of water slip through the cracks, literally, each year, or about 6 billion gallons of water per day. The ancient water infrastructure throughout the country is full of leaking pipes, cracked mains and broken meters.

For example, the largest water filtration plant in the world, Jardine Water Filtration Plant, is located in the city of Chicago and pumps out purified water to about 5 million residents via thousands of miles of pipes. However, about 22 billion gallons of water leak through old pipes and broken water mains in the city every year. In Philadelphia, the Water Department pumps out 250 million gallons of purified water daily to nearby residents, but more than 60 million gallons are lost through the pipes every day.

Billions of gallons of drinking water are wasted through cracks and leaks in water pipes. (Source: UCLA)

In Canada, home to some of the most abundant supplies of freshwater, there are cities with 35 to 45 percent water loss. Ontario, for example, has outdated and leaky pipes responsible for the loss of about  CAD 700 million per year in wasted drinking water.

In the UK, about 872 million gallons, or 20 percent the nation’s treated water supply, leaks through old pipes before it reaches residents. This is 62 million gallons more per day than water loss rates from a decade ago, showing the severe consequences aging pipes can have.  

Faulty water pipes

The biggest problem with water systems around the world is simply their age. They were built ages ago, often with insufficient materials and outdated technology, and now, they’re too expensive and extensive to repair or replace.

However, old pipes can pose a number of problems. Besides the gallons of wasted purified water, an outdated water system can pose major health risks. In the U.S., 1 in 4 people drinks unsanitary water due to insufficient water infrastructure. It has already been proven that contaminants can enter the water system through leaks that are most often caused by corrosion and material defect.

Cast iron pipes are highly susceptible to corrosion and structural damage. (Source: Micro Power Grids)

Water pipes installed decades ago are traditionally made of cast iron and laid on wooden blocks or rocks. Such pipes are highly corrosive and most susceptible to damage. Also, a well-functioning pipe keeps contaminated water out with pressure from mains that forces water out of minor cracks, but not in. Over time, damage to a certain section of a pipe can cause this pressure to drop, and groundwater often finds its way in through cracks.

Making it right with steel

The ideal solution for outdated, faulty water pipes would be to replace them with new ones equipped with the latest damage detection and repair technologies. However, such projects are not only expensive, but a city’s water system is often politically, regionally and physically intertwined with other entities, making it difficult to take on such a mammoth task.

Thus, cities opt for isolated repairs instead, either placing a stainless steel clamp over the damaged area or inserting a smaller stainless steel pipe inside the existing, cracked pipe. Stainless steel is the most common material for repairing and replacing outdated cast iron, concrete and lead pipes due to its excellent strength and resistance to corrosion. Higher grades of stainless steel, such as POSCO’s PossSD, can also resist high levels of pressure and are naturally resistant to microbes. Stainless steel can also be manufactured to withstand extreme temperatures.

Major cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei are undergoing massive projects to replace the majority of their water pipes with stainless steel to ensure safe and abundant drinking water for residents. For other cities, repairing leaky pipes with stainless steel will save millions of dollars currently leaking through the pipes and prevent illnesses associated with contaminated water. As the global demand for water continues to grow and fresh water supplies continue to shrink, conservation is becoming more important than ever, ensuring that stainless steel will play a vital role in water pipe repairs and replacements for years to come in efforts to correct and maintain the system that serves the basis of all human activities.

Cover photo courtesy of The Spruce.

Aging Water Pipeline Systems Around the World

Outdated water pipelines systems such as prestressed concrete cylinder pipelines (PCCP), lead pipes and corrosive iron pipes are causing problems worldwide.

PCCP is common throughout the U.S. They are large in diameter, meaning that when they fail, it can be catastrophic. PCCP failures have ruptured and leaked, cracked and dented, or otherwise ceased to hold up to the high capacity, high-pressure needs they were once installed to meet.

Why are they failing? Generally speaking, PCCP was not held to high standards during 1970s-era installations. The reinforcing wires used within those pipes were not manufactured with enough thickness, ultimately leading to corrosion and brittleness as the pipes reach the earlier-than-expected end of their usefulness.

An example a ruptured PCCP (Source: Hazen)

These pipes are failing wherever they are in use – all over the United States and all over the world. Florida and Maryland have been forced to handle catastrophic failures. In California, PCCP in need of repair or replacement cost USD 40 million for 4.5 miles of relining work. The overall cost of fixing pipes underneath southern California is estimated at $2.5 billion.

That’s just a drop in the bucket, looking at the overall cost of repairing or replacing PCCP in the U.S. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and American Water Works Association estimate that national replacement and repair work could cost $40 billion.

Governments do not want to make the same mistake again while replacing or repairing water pipelines, and there is a clear need to choose a material that can withstand time, pressure and environmental stresses.

The Solution: Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the material of choice in modern pipe installation and replacement projects.

As an example of how this material can offer great benefits, Tokyo’s Bureau of Waterworks began replacing leaky, old cast iron pipes with stainless steel in the 1980s. The material was chosen because of its strength and its well-known resistance to corrosion. All of the pipes in the water distribution system were replaced with stainless steel by 2012, drastically reducing water loss.

A worker inspects a steel pipe during pipe replacement in Japan. (Source: World Steel Association)

Choosing stainless steel for this kind of work is becoming a global standard. Seoul is another major city that replaced its outdated water pipelines with stainless steel. Around 96 percent of Seoul’s pipes were replaced by 2013, and the remaining pipes will be replaced by 2018.

In Taipei, pipes installed before 1979 were mostly made of lead- causing health and safety concerns for Taipei’s citizens. Over 70 percent of existing lead pipes were replaced with stainless steel by the end of 2016, and more replacements are underway.

Why Stainless Steel is Superior

It is clear that PCCP is not an option many would consider, given the huge costs related to replacing it. Even with the vast material options available, there is a clear reason governments and agencies are choosing stainless steel for waterworks systems.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is chemically resistant and lightweight, like steel, but can easily be degraded by sunlight. Because waterworks systems need a long lifespan, it does not make sense to choose a material that can be affected so heavily by environmental factors.

Ductile iron is an option, but is generally rejected because it requires more infrastructure to work, owing to its weight and short laying lengths. More and larger support foundations are required to hoist systems made from this heavy material. Ductile iron requires special lining when used in waterworks systems, as it can be affected by iron bacteria and precipitation.

High-grade stainless steel is naturally resistant to corrosion. It offers high strength and pressure resistance. It is a material that maintains resistance to microbes, and can be manufactured to resist heat.

POSCO’s stainless steel, particularly duplex steel, is ideal for waterworks, for all of the above-mentioned reasons. POSCO’s Lean Duplex steel or PossSD features superior anti-corrosion and intergranular corrosion resistance. It is employed regularly for applications such as water pipelines, and sea-water and chemical equipment. Watch the video for more details.

As cities see PCCP and other old pipe systems failing, materials like PossSD will ensure that replacement water pipelines do not suffer the same fate.

When creating new pipelines, and bringing old systems back to life, stainless steel is the best choice. It is lightweight yet strong, resistant to microbes, corrosion and other damage, and it can withstand all the pressures, temperatures and elements that exist within a pipeline system.

As the majority of the world’s pipeline systems have or will be reaching the end of its lifespan, cities will have to plan ahead and incorporate the best possible materials to ensure clean and safe water delivery, as well as to minimize future costs for repairs and replacement. Stainless steel is already relining or replacing outdated pipes all over the world, and will help governments eliminate safety and budget concerns.

Cover photo courtesy of Overeem.

POSCO played a significant role in helping ZPP acquire the quality certification by supplying them with the API-X70 steel plate that is commonly used in API pipes. This certification shows that the products, management systems, and services are in line with the quality standards defined by the GAZPROMCERT system.

ZPP executives meet with POSCO on March 18 to conclude their marketing consultations. On March 23, Russia’s ZPP became certified by Gazprom, the world’s largest natural gas company, with the help of POSCO’s Solution Marketing.

By working with ZPP’s quality design group, steelworks, and research institute, POSCO helped them successfully pass Gazprom’s quality certification procedures – one example of POSCO’s efforts to pursue shared growth with its customers.

The Gazprom certification has enabled POSCO to rebuild its sales infrastructure in Russia, a vast market that demands more than 2 million tons of API plates per year. POSCO aims to continue strengthening its presence in Russia with its advanced steel products and solution marketing services. With ZPP, in particular, this could come in the form of providing diagnostic support for their equipment and steel plates.

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