Since 4,000 BCE, humans have been building pipes. Water pipes have changed over time, and more changes are necessary in order to create sustainable and efficient water infrastructure. In fact, the United States is in desperate need of an infrastructure overhaul; every two minutes, there is a water main break. This signals that modern pipes are falling behind, and new solutions are necessary.
Many modern pipes are ductile iron pipes, or DIPs. These pipes first emerged in 1955 as a response to the high failure rate of their predecessor, the prestressed concrete cylinder pipe. DIPs have a massive environmental impact, releasing 128 kg of carbon dioxide from every one meter of 200 mm DIP. They also have a lifespan of only 55 years, but many DIPs have been in use for 75 years, making them old and prone to leakages.
A promising solution to the United States’ water infrastructure woes is Hobas fiberglass reinforced polymer mortar, or FRPM. FRPM was designed in 1960 and has already proven to be a useful material. It has a longevity of 150+ years and has the lowest carbon footprint of any other water piping system. It is also useful because it can be added to existing pipes as reinforcement, and also implemented in new piping.
Water pipes have evolved significantly over thousands of years, and will continue to evolve to meet modern needs. FRPM is a useful next step in improving water infrastructure and ushering in a new age of sustainable water pipes.