Study Examines Corrosive Soil Conditions Behind Water Main Breaks
A recent academic study on water main failures in the United States and Canada reveals a 27% increase in water main break rates between 2012 and 2018, with corrosive soils identified as a significant contributor. The research was led by Steven Folkman, a professor at Utah State University (USU) in Logan, Utah, USA, who previously authored a similar report in 2012. USU hosts the Buried Structures Laboratory, which has a large-scale testing facility for pipes and underground structures, as well as the Utah Water Research Laboratory—the oldest university-based water research facility in the United States. Survey Respondents The 2018 survey gathered responses from over 300 utilities, representing approximately 200,000 miles (321,869 kilometers) of installed water mains. Respondent input was collected from 48 U.S. states and seven out of 10 Canadian provinces, resulting in a 49% increase in survey responses and a 45% increase in miles of pipe compared to the 2012 study. The survey documente...