Water mains and distribution pipes in soil - external corrosion and protection methods

Extensive statistical investigations based on damage reports show that the corrosion damage frequency for buried water mains and distribution pipelines in Sweden increased during the 1970s and 1980s. For this reason, a number of statistical and technical investigations of the corrosion and counter-measures were carried out.

The paper reports on the corrosion damage statistics for water pipelines and the costs of the corrosion damage. Further, ways of actively working to reduce the corrosion damage frequency are described. These measures include the introduction of cast iron pipes with high quality coatings and the application of cathodic protection on different types of existing pipelines, and, further, the systematic replacement of pipeline sections, which show a high corrosion damage frequency.