Municipalities across South Africa are facing a sewage and wastewater crisis as the country’s dilapidated pipe lines, mainly constructed out of steel or asbestos cement and installed in the 1960’s, reach the end of their effective lifespan. Unless urgent attention is given to the replacement and maintenance of these pipes, the end result is predictable: bursts will start occurring on a daily basis, followed by catastrophic component failure and regular and prolonged disruptions in service delivery.  

Suggests Roger Rusch, CEO of Industrial Water Cooling (IWC), “To solve the crisis, municipalities should consider replacing old pipes with ones constructed out of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) - a relatively new composite material that was not available in the 1960’s. GRP is an exceptional, long-lasting material that is resistant to corrosion and able to withstand the highly acidic and sulphurous sewage environment."  

“When compared to traditional pipe materials including steel and asbestos cement, GRP is stronger, more durable and stiffer, therefore needing fewer supports. GRP pipes last longer and resist greater loads from surrounding soil, backfill and surface traffic. Also, GRP piping can flex up to 40% more than steel or ductile iron pipes, making them better suited to handle high internal pressure surges as well as ground movement,” adds Rusch.