Humans have been constructing water pipes for thousands of years. They have quickly become a vital part of our infrastructure and have gone through years of evolution and advancement since their invention. What started as clay and wooden pipes in ancient times has now become iron and fiberglass water pipes. However, despite these changes, there is still a water main break every two minutes in the United States. These issues are the result of failing infrastructure that many communities around the country are currently working to fix.
Both federal and local governments in the United States have pledged billions of dollars this year to rebuilding and rehabilitating water pipes. Currently, 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost per day in the United States, and these losses can be costly. In addition, we are currently 25 years overdue for infrastructure updates, and we rely heavily on these outdated systems. Replacing these pipes with new designs that need less maintenance help to cut costs, reduce odor emissions, and prevent catastrophic disasters like sinkholes.
With a new focus on sustainability in innovation, the water pipe is the next aspect of our infrastructure that is set to get a makeover. The future is bright as long as municipalities continue to demand safer and more reliable solutions to these foundational problems.
