Effects of Soil Corrosion on Cast‐Iron Pipe

Abstract

In 1945, AWWA, in cooperation with the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) and the Institute of Water Supply Utilities, published a summary of a survey of water supply facilities in 26 cities in the United States and Canada. The records of these cities were examined to determine the expected life of various facilities. Included in the survey were data on approximately 56,000,000 ft of cast‐iron water distribution mains, ranging in size from 4 in. to 60 in. The first of the mains was laid in 1817. At the time of the survey, 91.3 per cent of the cast‐iron mains were still in service. In order to arrive at a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved, the Cast Iron Pipe Research Association recently undertook two supplementary studies to determine the effect of soil corrosion on cast‐iron pipe. Studied in these surveys, conducted during 1956 and 1957, were eight cities located in different parts of the United States, representing six of the seven major soil classifications. The work was also undertaken to add further meaning and significance, through engineering data, to the figures established in the 1945 survey.