Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Drinking water systems around the world consist of water pipelines that have been in service for over 50 years will little or no maintenance. Over the years, these often-neglected, out-of-sight, and out-of-mind water assets have become encrusted with scale and deposits that reduce water quality and increase energy costs. In water distribution, energy consumption can represent more than 50 percent of operation costs. Energy costs include: pumping water through clogged pipes; water loss due to pipe leakage (often greater than 20 percent of treated water); and, increased water treatment costs. Replacing old distribution pipes through traditional dig and replacement is very expensive, disruptive and increases energy, environmental, and social costs. The opportunity for rehabilitating aging water infrastructure using innovative, in-situ water pipe cleaning and lining technologies provides an economically viable, environmentally friendly and energy friendly alternative to replacement. According to the latest AWWA (American Water Works, 2012) survey, the value of the market for water infrastructure renewal in North America is 500 billion dollars over the next 24 years. According to the latest Canadian Infrastructure Report Card (2012), the current replacement cost for drinking water infrastructure in fair-to-very-poor condition in Canada is 25.9 billion dollars.