Navigating the Renewal of Aging Urban Water Networks
By Emily Newton
A waterline breaks in the middle of city traffic, flooding the area and causing chaos. Resting below concrete jungles is the current bane of sewage and wastewater workers — the aging water infrastructure. Pipes, septic tanks, controllers and related networks must be repaired and replaced to meet modern utility demands and reduce water scarcity. How did networks get to this point, and what will experts do to bring them into the 21st century?
The State of Aging Water Infrastructure
Current urban water infrastructure is antiquated, which presents citizens and professionals with a host of problems. It results in numerous adverse side effects, impacting the environment, public health, and a city’s ability to grow. Many pipes are centuries old, progressively contaminating drinking water and leading to infrastructure destruction.
Treatment plants also feel the effects of this neglect as it becomes harder to make water safe for consumption. Water loss is a primary concern with the network’s current state. Leaky pipes cause six billion gallons of already treated water to go to waste daily in the U.S. Utilities lose money, and water scarcity intensifies, putting more pressure on citizens.
Remote communities feel the brunt most. Companies are inclined to divert resources to high-demand, profitable urban areas, which compromises rural access. The constant conflict utility companies must face distracts from fair asset distribution. People are swarming to urban areas. An estimated one in seven people will be urbanites by 2050. Population fluctuation and ever-changing demand should anticipate an influx in urban areas while supporting rural regions equally.
Networks must adapt to meet modern needs. Updates include all components attached to water systems, such as screws, power boxes and operational panels. A self-tapping screw may seem inconsequential, but it is necessary to withstand forceful water pressure for decades. Otherwise, it will compromise structural integrity not long after installation.
Finally, tenured staff are also aging, leaving gaps in the workforce. Job outlooks for these operators could improve, as projections suggest a 6% decline in workers between 2022 and 2032. The drop in tradespeople may cause further shortages, leaving companies scrambling to achieve the bare minimum of repairs when more intensive overhauls are required.
The Path to Rejuvenation
Sewer and water experts need a plan to set themselves up for success. Otherwise, infrastructure will be inconsistent, incompatible and not standardized. These are the aspects of a well-formulated road map for network innovation.
Digitization
Water systems and their workers are among the more resistant industries to technological adoption, but they could be one of the greatest assets in modern history. Regulations and risk factors impact their ability to adopt modern tech. Pushing past these barriers by working with legislators and compliance organizations could make innovative technologies more cost-effective.
Private and Public Collaboration and Financial Strategies
Cities must look to regulatory leaders, private businesses and nonprofits for grants and assistance to flesh out renewal at scale. Sourcing funding alone may hinder progress, whereas networking will expedite enhancements. Water experts can pitch it to entities by asserting how it will contribute to the greater good.
Collaboration should also involve education and outreach to enrich communities and aspiring workers to interact with water systems more considerately. Professionals could publicize ways to dispose of chemicals or conserve water at home.
Revising Current Industry Standards
These sectors have operated the same for decades, using outdated technical documents and strategies when a new perspective is necessary. An estimated two-thirds of the EPA’s water pollution limits have not been updated in 30 years as of 2022. It is one of the reasons why renewal has not happened yet — the sector depends too much on old ideas to sustain it.
Reconsidering the water industry’s strategies for preventive maintenance, environmental resilience, standardization and compliance will benefit future generations of workers. It is the necessary push to overcome resistance to modernization.
The Techniques Industry Professionals Will Use to Renew Networks
With a plan in place, what methods will workforces use to make aging water infrastructure young again?
Waste Reuse and Resource Recovery
If water treatment plants cannot purify and sanitize waters fast enough, then conservation and resource reduction are the logical next steps. If the same, treated water cycles through society, then pressure on treatment plants decreases while minimizing discharge volumes.
Alternatively, recovered water may contain valuable resources, such as phosphorus and nitrogen companies need for other sectors. Recycled, clean wastewater could cool data centers or be funneled into urban agriculture for irrigation.
Trenchless Technology
Trenchless sewage technology is ideal for current needs because it minimizes how much excavation workers will need to undergo. It can keep urban environments as pristine as possible, reducing interference with the population’s mobility and routines. Examples of methods include:
- Cured-in-place pipe: Also known as pipe lining or relining, this process prevents destructive repairs by coating old lines.
- Pipe bursting: Expands already installed pipes by breaking them and installing new ones through or near them.
- Microtunneling: Remote-controlled tunneling used for wet soils to install thick, long piping.
Smart Sewer Systems
The Internet of Things (IoT) provides water workers with more data than they can imagine. From water quality monitors to remote control centers, operators can optimize flow, detect concerns and issue commands to keep newly installed infrastructure healthy.
Expanding into separate sewer lines versus traditional combined setups will make these systems even smarter. Every pipeline and connected smart device delivers precise insights on the water quality and contaminants from each source, informing those on the receiving side what they are dealing with.
Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
Navigating the update process is about more than installation — it is about making future maintenance more accessible and inexpensive. Decentralized treatment diversifies resources to reduce pressure on plants, delivering long-term support with assets like:
- Vertical-flow constructed wetlands: Performs natural sedimentation and filtration.
- Modular treatment units: Allows treatment to happen at the water’s entry point in smaller, adaptable machines.
- Septic tank upgrades: Eliminates common water quality concerns.
The Focus on Resilience for Solidifying the Future
One of the most significant reasons for a network renewal is to reinforce water systems against disasters. Emergencies and severe weather will become more torrential in the coming years, and societies cannot endure the consequences. Recovering from these circumstances is becoming too costly and time-consuming to support an urbanizing, developing culture.
This mindset is integral to climate-resilient design and green infrastructure integration. Water experts may want to consider other incorporations to support a healthy water system, such as rain gardens or permeable pavements. These fixtures may not seem related, but they alleviate numerous burdens from treatment plants and transmission systems.
Supplementing network restoration with additional assets prevents floods, clogs and dangerous pressure from impacting infrastructure. Urban water improvements should also consider elevating the city’s most critical assets, such as:
- Utility providers
- Data centers
- Emergency services in prone areas
Stormwater management, emergency responders and city officials may better navigate priorities if the most important resources remain protected.
The Way to Modern Waterways
The re-imagined urban water network is not far away thanks to the collaborative efforts of industry professionals, researchers, governments and stakeholders. The benefits are too many to ignore, with waves of people moving to urban centers yearly.
Cities must be able to support households and businesses without faltering, even during peak hours or amid a natural disaster. The sector is implementing these aspirational targets, where patience, time and money are the only genuine barriers to overcoming aging water infrastructure.
Emily Newton is a construction and industrial journalist. She is also the Editor-in-Chief for Revolutionized Magazine. Keep up with Emily by subscribing to Revolutionized’s Newsletter.