Effects of weather conditions on drinking water distribution pipe failures in the Netherlands

Abstract

The influence of the weather parameters of temperature, wind and drought on pipe failure of drinking water distribution pipes was studied for the Netherlands. Several data sources were used relating weather effects to pipe failure: pipe failure data, regional weather data from different weather stations in the Netherlands, soil settlement data obtained from satellites and (modelled) pressure data. For asbestos-cement (AC) and cast iron (CI) pipes, temperature was an important factor. CI pipes showed increased pipe failures at low temperatures, which confirms results from previous studies, whereas AC pipes showed increased pipe failures at high temperatures. Pipe failure rates were higher for pipes that on average received higher internal pressures. This study also showed that wind resulted in additional pipe failures caused by uprooting of trees during a severe storm. With respect to drought, in some regions in the Netherlands, increased pipe failures during periods of drought were found. A small influence of soil settlement on pipe failure was found using remote-sensing techniques for a small area (5 × 10 km) in the Netherlands.