From grey cast iron to ductile iron: the evolution of the most sought-after material for water supply networks

Summary

For centuries cast iron has been a key material for water supply systems owing to its strength and long service life. In 1932, ductile iron was produced: modifying gray cast iron with magnesium transformed the lamellar graphite of gray cast iron into spheroidal graphite, significantly improving the mechanical properties of the material. Today, the story continues: in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities throughout Russia, utility networks are being upgraded by replacing gray cast iron pipes with ductile iron pipes.

Key words

ductile iron , water distribution and sewer networks , cast iron pipes , gray cast iron , zinc-aluminum coating

Stages of development of repair methods for water distribution
and sewer networks

Summary

The construction of water distribution and sewer networks in Novokuznetsk was carried out in 1950–1970 with the rapid development of the industrial city. Today Vodokanal LLC is the main provider of cold water supply and wastewater disposal services to the population and industries in Novokuznetsk. In the 1990s, the conditions of the networks and the economic situation in the country required the search for advanced time-effective construction and repair technologies at minimum use of resources and finance for the most efficient performance of work. Today, the attitude of the enterprise for search for technically new, while also cost-effective, methods of repairing water distribution and sewer networks allow providing consumers with high-quality drinking water as one of the factors of sanitary and epidemiological well-being, improving the efficiency, reliability and quality of operations of the municipal drinking water supply and wastewater disposal facilities.

Key words

diagnostics , rehabilitation , gas corrosion , rehabilitation , water distribution and sewer networks , HD polyethylene , corrugated polypropylene , steel sewer wear , pipe locator , leak detection , teleinspection float raft , multifunctional mobile emergency-repair vehicle