ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | OCTOBER 2024 14 Annually, the United States faces over 250,000 water main failures, leading to extensive flooding, property damage, and significant financial repercussions, including costly legal disputes and operational delays. These failures impose enormous financial burdens on municipalities, covering repair costs, mitigating flood damage, lost commercial revenue, and interruptions to essential services such as healthcare and firefighting. The economic toll on industries and municipal govern- ments is substantial, necessitating a forward-thinking approach to infrastructure maintenance (Figs. 1 and 2). DETECTING GRAPHITIZATION The core issue lies in the aging gray and cast-iron pipelines susceptible to graphitization—a form of corrosion that weakens the pipes’ structural integrity (Fig. 3). Traditional maintenance methods are largely reactive, addressing problems only after failures occur, leading to high expenses associated with emergency repairs and collateral damage. This highlights the critical need for proactive strategies to identify and address potential issues before they become catastrophic. An innovative solution to these challenges is the “Zee Probe” (Fig. 4). Designed to detect graphitization in active pipelines, it identifies areas at risk of major failures early on. By using indirect methods like GIS mapping, in-situ soil resistivity testing, and structure-to-soil potential measurements, high-risk zones can be pinpointed. Once these areas are identified, the probe assesses the severity and depth of graphi- tization, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the pipeline’s condition. This allows for the implementation of effective corrosion management strategies, including cathodic protection systems, to prevent critical failures. The Zee Probe operates on the principle of inductance variation. It features a compact inductor with a ferrite core, wrapped in multiple layers of magnet wire. This configuration is adept at detecting changes in graphitization levels within cast-iron pipes by accurately measuring inductance shifts during surface scans (Fig. 5). The adoption of advanced diagnostic tools like this unique probe marks a significant shift from reactive to proactive maintenance strategies for municipalities. This approach optimizes resource utilization and enhances the reliability of water supply systems, ensuring public health and safety. Developed by engineers and researchers at Matergenics, which focuses on infrastructure resilience and public safety, this novel probe represents a significant advancement in water infra- structure maintenance. Its proactive approach aims to shift the paradigm from reactive to preventive maintenance, promising to improve the safety and reliability of water supply systems while reducing economic impacts associated with water main corrosion. Fig. 1 — Photograph showing water main break. Fig. 2 — Photographs showing the pieces of a broken water main. Fig. 3 — Photographs showing the depth of corrosion. Fig. 4 — Photograph showing the Zee Probe.
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