Common Problems with Water Supply Pipelines
The municipal water supply system is the lifeline of the city and is crucial to maintaining normal social life, social order, and public safety. The urban water supply pipeline must meet the requirements for the city's production and living water quality standards, sufficient water volume, and water pressure. Therefore, a city's water supply pipeline system is directly related to its development and prosperity.
With the development of society, urban water supply has become a focus for governments and the public. Especially in recent years, leakages and bursts of pipelines have occurred frequently, seriously affecting people's lives and often causing problems such as insufficient water, leaked pipes and burst pipes, substandard water quality, and unstable water pressure. The number and scale of accidents are constantly escalating, greatly affecting the safety of the urban water supply system. Therefore, it is important to ensure the proper operation of water supply pipelines.
Water supply pipelines are buried underground year-round. Long-term contact between metal pipelines and the surrounding soil causes corrosion, resulting in the thinning of the metal pipeline wall. When the pipeline is subjected to external pressure that exceeds its compressive strength, leakages and even bursts may occur, causing significant economic losses. External metal corrosion is one of the main causes of pipeline failure, affecting the city's water supply.
In recent years, China has experienced serious water outages caused by damaged water supply pipelines. According to statistics, water outages occurred frequently across the country in 2021 due to the aging and rupture of pipelines. Data show that water supply pipelines in many cities have expired, and some are in disrepair and have high damage rates. This problem is especially prominent in some old urban areas in northern China. For example, Beijing reported multiple bursts of water supply pipes in 2021, resulting in large-scale water outages and affecting the lives and work of tens of thousands of residents. Similar situations also occurred from time to time in cities such as Tianjin and Harbin. Due to these incidents, the urban water supply department had to invest significant manpower and material resources in emergency repairs and upgrades. To deal with this problem, the Chinese government and relevant departments have increased investment in and transformation of water supply infrastructure. In 2022, China launched renovation projects for old water supply pipelines in many cities, aiming to improve the safety and stability of the water supply system. At the same time, China also actively promotes intelligent monitoring and management technology to detect and prevent pipeline damage early.
Although water supply companies have adopted a variety of leakage detection and explosion proof methods, due to various factors such as pipe materials, temperatures, water pressure, traffic, and construction, the leakage rate of pipelines remains high and pipe explosions still occur from time to time. Water supply companies suffer significant economic losses. Pipeline leaks and bursts not only cause waste of water resources but also pollution due to gaps caused by pipe bursts. The lives of residents will are also be affected. Major pipe bursts may even cause spraying due to large amounts of water leakage, creating unfavorable situations for road traffic. All these issues show that the problem of damaged water pipes cannot be ignored. Water supply pipelines play a vital role in the water supply system, but they also face many problems in operation. These problems not only affect the efficiency of the water supply system but also negatively impact residents' lives and urban development.
Common problems with water supply pipelines
Aging and corrosion
Description: Water supply pipelines in many cities have been used for decades. Their materials have aged, their corrosion resistance has declined, and they are prone to rupture and leakage.
Impact: Aging and corrosion can cause water supply interruptions, water contamination, and increased maintenance and replacement costs.
Measures: Through regular visual inspections, sonic detection, leakage detection, and other means, the degree of aging and corrosion of pipelines can be discovered and evaluated. Develop a detailed pipeline maintenance and replacement plan to ensure timely repair or replacement of aging and severely corroded pipelines.
Leakages
Description: There are leakages in the water supply pipeline system, which may be caused by loose pipe connections or broken pipes.
Impact: Leakages not only waste water resources but may also cause ground subsidence and road collapse, affecting the safety of traffic and residents.
Measures: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance for water supply pipelines, and promptly discover and repair leaking points and aging pipe sections. Replace or upgrade older pipes with those made from more durable and corrosion-resistant materials, such as ductile iron pipes or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes.
Pressure fluctuations
Description: Pressure fluctuations in the water system can cause pipe bursts or insufficient water supply, especially during water usage at peak times.
Impact: Pressure fluctuations affect residents' water use, especially in high-rise buildings, where insufficient water pressure may lead to the inability to access water.
Measures: Install pressure regulating equipment in the water supply system to maintain the water pressure within a reasonable range, preventing issues caused by pressure fluctuations.
Water quality
Description: The water supplied may contain impurities such as rust and sediment due to aging or pollution of pipelines, affecting water quality.
Impact: Poor water quality poses a threat to residents’ health and affects the quality of drinking water and daily water.
Measures: Strengthen the monitoring of water supply quality to ensure compliance with sanitary standards and conduct purification treatment when necessary.
Pipe blocking
Description: Sediments, dirt or foreign objects can block the pipeline, resulting in poor water supply.
Impact: Blockage reduce water supply efficiency, leading to a drop in water supply pressure, and affecting users' water experience.
Measures: Use advanced water leakage detection technology, such as sonic detection and infrared detection, to promptly inspect and repair water leakages.
With the development of society, urban water supply has become a focus for governments and the public. Especially in recent years, leakages and bursts of pipelines have occurred frequently, seriously affecting people's lives and often causing problems such as insufficient water, leaked pipes and burst pipes, substandard water quality, and unstable water pressure. The number and scale of accidents are constantly escalating, greatly affecting the safety of the urban water supply system. Therefore, it is important to ensure the proper operation of water supply pipelines.
Water supply pipelines are buried underground year-round. Long-term contact between metal pipelines and the surrounding soil causes corrosion, resulting in the thinning of the metal pipeline wall. When the pipeline is subjected to external pressure that exceeds its compressive strength, leakages and even bursts may occur, causing significant economic losses. External metal corrosion is one of the main causes of pipeline failure, affecting the city's water supply.
In recent years, China has experienced serious water outages caused by damaged water supply pipelines. According to statistics, water outages occurred frequently across the country in 2021 due to the aging and rupture of pipelines. Data show that water supply pipelines in many cities have expired, and some are in disrepair and have high damage rates. This problem is especially prominent in some old urban areas in northern China. For example, Beijing reported multiple bursts of water supply pipes in 2021, resulting in large-scale water outages and affecting the lives and work of tens of thousands of residents. Similar situations also occurred from time to time in cities such as Tianjin and Harbin. Due to these incidents, the urban water supply department had to invest significant manpower and material resources in emergency repairs and upgrades. To deal with this problem, the Chinese government and relevant departments have increased investment in and transformation of water supply infrastructure. In 2022, China launched renovation projects for old water supply pipelines in many cities, aiming to improve the safety and stability of the water supply system. At the same time, China also actively promotes intelligent monitoring and management technology to detect and prevent pipeline damage early.
Although water supply companies have adopted a variety of leakage detection and explosion proof methods, due to various factors such as pipe materials, temperatures, water pressure, traffic, and construction, the leakage rate of pipelines remains high and pipe explosions still occur from time to time. Water supply companies suffer significant economic losses. Pipeline leaks and bursts not only cause waste of water resources but also pollution due to gaps caused by pipe bursts. The lives of residents will are also be affected. Major pipe bursts may even cause spraying due to large amounts of water leakage, creating unfavorable situations for road traffic. All these issues show that the problem of damaged water pipes cannot be ignored. Water supply pipelines play a vital role in the water supply system, but they also face many problems in operation. These problems not only affect the efficiency of the water supply system but also negatively impact residents' lives and urban development.
Common problems with water supply pipelines
Aging and corrosion
Description: Water supply pipelines in many cities have been used for decades. Their materials have aged, their corrosion resistance has declined, and they are prone to rupture and leakage.
Impact: Aging and corrosion can cause water supply interruptions, water contamination, and increased maintenance and replacement costs.
Measures: Through regular visual inspections, sonic detection, leakage detection, and other means, the degree of aging and corrosion of pipelines can be discovered and evaluated. Develop a detailed pipeline maintenance and replacement plan to ensure timely repair or replacement of aging and severely corroded pipelines.
Leakages
Description: There are leakages in the water supply pipeline system, which may be caused by loose pipe connections or broken pipes.
Impact: Leakages not only waste water resources but may also cause ground subsidence and road collapse, affecting the safety of traffic and residents.
Measures: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance for water supply pipelines, and promptly discover and repair leaking points and aging pipe sections. Replace or upgrade older pipes with those made from more durable and corrosion-resistant materials, such as ductile iron pipes or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes.
Pressure fluctuations
Description: Pressure fluctuations in the water system can cause pipe bursts or insufficient water supply, especially during water usage at peak times.
Impact: Pressure fluctuations affect residents' water use, especially in high-rise buildings, where insufficient water pressure may lead to the inability to access water.
Measures: Install pressure regulating equipment in the water supply system to maintain the water pressure within a reasonable range, preventing issues caused by pressure fluctuations.
Water quality
Description: The water supplied may contain impurities such as rust and sediment due to aging or pollution of pipelines, affecting water quality.
Impact: Poor water quality poses a threat to residents’ health and affects the quality of drinking water and daily water.
Measures: Strengthen the monitoring of water supply quality to ensure compliance with sanitary standards and conduct purification treatment when necessary.
Pipe blocking
Description: Sediments, dirt or foreign objects can block the pipeline, resulting in poor water supply.
Impact: Blockage reduce water supply efficiency, leading to a drop in water supply pressure, and affecting users' water experience.
Measures: Use advanced water leakage detection technology, such as sonic detection and infrared detection, to promptly inspect and repair water leakages.
